EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Engineering Apprenticeships (West Midlands)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people (a) entered into and (b) completed engineering apprenticeships in the West Midlands region in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Peter Luff, dated 18 March 2005
	I am writing in response to your parliamentary question, relating to engineering apprenticeships in the West Midlands region.
	I enclose a table setting out the number of starts and achievements on engineering apprenticeships in the region from 1997–98 to 2003/04. Note that information for the period before the creation of the LSC has been provided by DfES, and may not be completely consistent with more recent figures.
	If you have any queries, please contact Stephen Lilley, Regional Skills Director for the West Midlands, on 0121 345 4644.
	
		Engineering apprenticeship starts in the West Midlands region 1997–98 to 2003–04. Pre-LSC figures measured in terms of financial years (April to March)
		
			  Starts 
			  Advanced apprenticeships Apprenticeships at level 2 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,000 n/a 
			 1998–99 900 500 
			 1999–2000 800 600 
			 2000–01 700 500 
		
	
	
		LSC—figures measured in terms of academic years (August to July)
		
			  Starts Framework achievements 
			  Advanced apprenticeships Apprenticeships at level 2 Advanced apprenticeships Apprenticeships at level 2 
		
		
			 April to July 2001 28 271 13 26 
			 2001/02 249 1,224 169 197 
			 2002/03 250 1,228 121 116 
			 2003/04 244 1,247 106 279 
		
	
	
		
			  NVQ only achievements Total leavers 
			  Advanced apprenticeships Apprenticeships at level 2 Advanced apprenticeships Apprenticeships at level 2 
		
		
			 April to July 2001 25 12 134 193 
			 2001/02 84 120 532 888 
			 2002/03 61 164 320 722 
			 2003/04 71 109 276 968 
		
	
	Notes on methodology:
	1.Learner numbers pre-2001 are taken by DfES from TEC management information. TEC Ml is aggregagated data and does not contain information on sector. Individual learner data held on the trainee database contains information on sector, but we know the database did not accurately record the total number of learners. For each year, the percentage of learners studying engineering apprenticeships in the West Midlands from the trainee database has been applied to the total number of learners in the West Midlands from the TEC Ml to estimate the volume of learners studying engineering apprenticeships in the West Midlands. The number of achievements was not collected prior to 2001.
	2.Learner numbers and achievements from 2001 onwards are taken from the individualised learned record (ILR) collected by the LSC. Figures include all apprenticeships in the engineering area of learning.
	3.Definitions of 'engineering' pre- and post-2001 may not be directly comparable.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service Pensions

John Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will meet representatives of the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance.

David Miliband: Should the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance write to me requesting a meeting, I would consider their request.

Civil Service Training

Llew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes in civil servant training (a) at the Civil Service Training College and (b) in service are planned to be implemented to ensure delivery of the commitment contained in the Sustainability Strategy to strengthen civil service leadership capacity with better training in sustainable development.

David Miliband: Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS), the Government's centre for learning and development, has run short programmes on sustainable development for civil servants for some years with a largely estates management and procurement focus.
	In autumn 2004, as part of a broader partnership in the sustainability area, CMPS and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) co-designed two one day pilot workshops for senior civil servants which took a strategic and practical view of sustainable development. Parts of the workshop were delivered by Jonathon Porritt, chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, senior Defra officials and Forum for the Future. Jonathon Porritt also spoke recently on the Top Management Programme and sustainable development will be given dedicated coverage on all future runs of the Top Management Programme. Two further workshops for senior civil servants are planned for June and November 2005, and more will be offered if there is demand.
	CMPS is currently developing an internal project to integrate sustainable development thinking and practice into a wide range of programmes and will be giving much greater emphasis to sustainable development in professional and policy skills and leadership development programmes. More programmes will be developed which directly address sustainability issues and links are being made to emerging areas of work such as the Egan Skills for Sustainable Communities Review.
	Information on sustainability training in individual civil service departments is not held centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

Llew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department has issued guidance to Government Departments on responding to parliamentary questions recommending that in cases where an answer would incur a disproportionate cost, efforts should be made when appropriate to provide an answer to part or parts of the question.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office's Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions", copies of which are available in the Library, advises officials that
	where information is being refused on the grounds of disproportionate cost, there should be a presumption that any of the requested information which is readily available should be provided".

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many accidents occurred at her departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of her Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Alun Michael: The following figures reflect accidents, incidents, and work-related ill health occurring on Defra premises since Defra was formed in 2001. (a) shows the figures for core-departmental staff and (b) shows the figures for members of the public.
	The figures given are in calendar years, and are for the core Department only.
	
		
			  (a) core-departmental staff (b) members of the public 
		
		
			 2001 261 0 
			 2002 213 0 
			 2003 283 0 
			 2004 208 1

Avian Flu

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the evidential basis was for the distances chosen for protective and surveillance zones under the strategy to fight avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: The sizes for both the protection zone (a minimum of 3 km radius from an infected premises) and the surveillance zone (from the edge of the protection zone to a minimum of 10 km radius from an infected premises) have been set in European legislation for avian influenza since 1992. These minima are common for other non-vector borne exotic notifiable diseases and will be extended if the epidemiological investigation into a disease outbreak suggests that a larger area needs to be subject to disease control measures.

Circuses

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the local authorities in England which ban circuses with performing animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information on which local authorities have refused to allow circuses to perform with animals. Such a decision is up to individual local authorities and is in relation to council owned, not private, sites.

Environmentally Friendly Farms

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's strategy is for encouraging farmers to make their farms more environmentally friendly.

Alun Michael: The Government are acutely aware of the link between agriculture and the environment and agreed the role of farmers as custodians of the countryside to be basic. The strategy for sustainable farming and food was launched in England in 2002 and sets out the basis for a new relationship between Government and the farming industry in England. At its heart is a drive to enable farmers to focus on their market, rather than on subsidies, while managing their businesses in more environmentally and socially responsible ways.
	The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform deal of 2003 is central to the strategy. Farmers are now encouraged to meet the demands of the market, and there is no incentive to over-produce, because the link between subsidies and production has been broken. This will benefit society as a whole by reducing the negative environmental and animal welfare impacts of intensive farming.
	The cross compliance element of the CAP single payment scheme provides a new basis for agricultural subsidies, by linking them to delivery of important environmental and animal health and welfare standards. This will contribute to a number of strategy objectives by protecting soils, wildlife habitats and the landscape.
	Further to this is the launch of environmental stewardship this spring which builds on cross compliance and replaces existing agri-environment schemes (environmentally sensitive areas, countryside stewardship and organic farming schemes). The aim of environmental stewardship will be to tackle countrywide environmental problems such as diffuse pollution, loss of biodiversity and landscape character, and damage to the historic environment. For the first time every farmer in England will be eligible to earn payments for undertaking environmental management on the land.
	Environmental stewardship has three elements:
	(i) Entry Level
	A whole farm scheme open to all farmers and land managers who agree to carry out basic environmental management. Farmers will be able to earn up to 30 per hectare annually for delivering straightforward, yet effective, work.
	(ii) Organic Entry Level
	A similar whole farm scheme, which offers organic management options to farmers with land registered as fully organic or in conversion to organic farming, with an organic inspection body approved by Defra. It provides payments of up to 60 per hectare annually for land entered into the scheme.
	(iii) Higher Level
	Rewards more ambitious environmental management.
	Together with the new CAP single payment scheme and cross-compliance, the new scheme will mark a watershed in the way England is farmed, and will continue to improve and build on the successes achieved through almost two decades of experience with the countryside stewardship, environmentally sensitive areas and organic farming schemes. There are a number of wide-ranging objectives, which go beyond those of the earlier schemes and include the protection of water and soil and flood management.
	The Department is also committed to encouraging greater production of organic food, and has set out its strategy for achieving this in the action plan to develop organic food and farming in England, published in July 2002, and the Two Years On report, published in August last year.

Fallen Stock

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to public funds of subsidising the collection of one (a) beef carcass, (b) sheep carcass and (c) horse carcass in each county of England in the 2004–05 financial year.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the latest total figures for the Government contribution to collection costs under the National Fallen Stock Scheme for the UK as a whole from 22 November 2004 to date is as follows: (a) bovine carcases £162,094; (b) sheep carcases £198,929; (c) horse carcases £0 ( horses are not eligible for support under the scheme).

Fallen Stock

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the lowest charge quoted to the National Fallen Stock Company is for the collection of a (a) beef, (b) sheep and (c) horse carcase in each county of England.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on prices charged by fallen stock collectors in particular areas are provided on an individual postcode basis to farmers and horse owners who join the National Fallen Stock Scheme. This is not only on the basis of the species but different categories within species (e.g. bovines 6–12 months, 12–24 months etc.).

Fallen Stock

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence she has collated of the pollution of (a) watercourses and (b) groundwater by on-farm burials of fallen stock in each year since 1999.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 March 2005
	None. However, the Environment Agency is often involved with carcases found in or near to watercourses and it has no direct evidence to show that on-farm burial in the past has caused reportable pollution problems.

Fallen Stock

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records she has kept of trends in the costs of (a) incineration and (b) rendering of fallen stock in each year since 1999; and if she will make a statement on the cost of disposal of (i)beef, (ii) sheep and (iii) horse carcasses.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The Department does not keep records of trends in costs of incineration and rendering of fallen stock. This is a commercial matter for the fallen stock disposal industry. The Government contribution to the National Fallen Stock Scheme has assisted farmers, but not horse owners, who have joined the Scheme with the costs of collection and disposal of fallen stock since November 2004.

Fallen Stock

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of changes in the over-30-month scheme on (a) demand for incineration capacity between March 2005 and March 2007 and (b) the cost of incineration of (i) beef, (ii) sheep and (iii) horse carcases.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 24 March 2005
	My officials met with representatives of the disposal industry in January 2005 to discuss the likely effects of the forthcoming OTM rule change. Views on the impact of the rule change on all sectors are also being sought as part of the process of the respective Defra and FSA consultations on changes to the domestic TSE Regulations.

Farm Gate Prices

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to meet farmers and supermarkets to discuss farm gate prices.

Alun Michael: While we recognise the problems that low farm gate prices have caused, the prices at which farmers sell their produce is a commercial matter in which the Government should not get involved. However, Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the supply chain and are aware of the issues.

Farm Subsidies

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average compensation payments paid in each region of England and Wales were in each month from February to October 2001 for (a) sheep and (b) cattle.

Alun Michael: The question does not specify which scheme of compensation payments is referred to, but Iassume that this request refers to foot and mouth compensation payments.
	I have placed in the Library a table that shows the average amount of compensation for both sheep and cattle for each region within both England and Wales. The table only includes those months where compensation was paid, and the amounts shown are rounded to the nearest pound.
	I am providing the information on a county basis since that is how figures have been recorded and it would be difficult to produce regional averages without considerable work to aggregate the base information.

Farmers (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The following figures show the number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses on holdings in the Shrewsbury and Atcham local authority area.
	
		
			  Number of farmers, partners, directors and spouses (full and part time) working on the holding Number of holdings with farmers, partners, directors and spouses 
		
		
			 1997 1,275 702 
			 1998 1,281 689 
			 1999 1,267 691 
			 2000 1,380 790 
			 2001 1,466 818 
			 2002 1,388 837 
			 2003 1,343 785 
			 2004 1,378 776 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 minor holdings are included. A holding is defined as a minor if it meets all of the following conditions:
	the total area is less than 6 hectares
	the labour requirement is estimated to be less than 100 standard person-days
	there is no regular full-time farmer or worker
	the glasshouse area is less than 100 sq m
	the occupier does not farm another holding.
	2.Due to the introduction of new questions in 1998 figures prior to this year are not directly comparable with earlier years' results.
	3.Due to a register improvement exercise in 2001 labour figures prior to this are not directly comparable with later results.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Census

Food Miles

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned on methods of reducing food miles.

Alun Michael: The Government are working with the industry on practical measures to reduce food miles in a way which is sustainable. The industry, particularly food retailers, has a crucial role to play in helping to reduce food miles. There are encouraging signs, notably in development of logistics planning and preparation of advice, but more could be done. Defra has commissioned research that is due to report this spring, analysing available data and making recommendations for indicators for measuring improvement.

Foot and Mouth

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many previously paid invoices for (a) direct compensation and (b) associated activities connected with the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease are being re-investigated.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to pages 6, 35, 36 and 37 of the National Audit Office Report Foot and Mouth Disease: Applying the Lessons—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General HC184 Session 2004–2005 2 February 2005".

Foot and Mouth

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ongoing claims and invoices for work connected with the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak have not been settled by her Department.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to pages 36 and 37 of the National Audit Office Report Foot and Mouth Disease: Applying the Lessons—Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General HC184 Session 2004–2005 2 February 2005".

Home Energy Efficiency Schemes

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Leicester South constituency have benefited from the (a) home energy efficiency and (b) warm front schemes.

Elliot Morley: Between the start of the warm front scheme in June 2000 and the end of February 2005, approximately 2,950 households were assisted in Leicester South.
	Under the previous home energy efficiency scheme information was collected by local authority rather than parliamentary constituency. Between April 1991 and May 2000 the number of households assisted by the scheme in the Leicester city council area were:
	
		
			  Number of households assisted 
		
		
			 1991–92 1,280 
			 1992–93 1,350 
			 1993–94 1,850 
			 1994–95 1,950 
			 1995–96 5,100 
			 1996–97 2,770 
			 1997–98 3,200 
			 1998–99 2,960 
			 1999–2000 3,110

Multiple Retailers

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with multiple retailers regarding their commercial treatment of primary producers; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: No meetings have been held with multiple retailers specifically to discuss their treatment of primary producers, though the subject will have arisen in the course of the Department's ongoing contacts with multiple retailers and other representatives of the food retail industry.
	The Department considers that it is in the long term interests of all buyers within the food chain to deal with their suppliers in a fair and straightforward way.

Public Bodies

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) Departments, (b) agencies and (c) public bodies she expects will be affected by the proposed merger of English Nature, the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency.

Alun Michael: English Nature and the Countryside Agency are both statutory non-departmental public bodies. The Rural Development Service is part of core Defra. The new statutory non-departmental public body announced in the Rural Strategy 2004 will comprise all of English Nature, the landscape, access and recreation elements of the Countryside Agency and the environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service. No other Departments, agencies or public bodies will be involved in the merger.
	In the Rural Strategy my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, also announced that the advocacy and advice role of the Countryside Agency would be refocused on a small expert body providing advice to government and advocacy on behalf of rural people. The establishment of the Commission for Rural Communities, initially within the legal framework of the Countryside Agency, but in due course as a statutory NDPB in its own right, was announced on 9 March. The socio-economic funding currently disbursed by the Countryside Agency is being devolved to the regional development agencies, together with control of the EU social and economic schemes of the England Rural Development Programme currently administered by the Rural Development Service while funding for Rural Community Councils will be continued, along with help for the rural voluntary and community sector, via Government offices.

Public Bodies

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of jobs which will be lost in the Grantham and Stamford constituency following the proposed merger of English Nature, the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency.

Alun Michael: English Nature currently has an office in Grantham. Work is currently being undertaken on the structure, precise numbers of staff, and the potential future locations of offices of the new agency. As decisions have yet to be taken, it is not yet possible to know whether there will be an impact on jobs in the hon. Member's constituency.

Public Bodies

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the merger of English Nature, the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency on (a) the services they provide and (b) the general public.

Alun Michael: The rural strategy set out the benefits of creating a new agency to champion integrated natural resource management, nature conservation, biodiversity, landscape, access and recreation. These were:
	a stronger, unified voice at regional and local level;
	a stronger, more coherent evidence-base for informing policy and influencing land managers;
	increased opportunities for everyone to understand, enjoy and benefit from the natural environment;
	a more flexible integrated, sustainable approach to management of the natural environment.
	coherent promotion of the wider social benefits of the environment across rural, urban, urban fringe and coastal areas;
	better opportunities to promote and exploit the part that a high quality environment plays in delivering social and economic benefit;
	a clearer framework for resolving potentially conflicting objectives between conservation and the use and enjoyment of our natural environment;
	more effective and simpler relationships with land managers, through the development of a single 'shop window' for customers for environmental schemes and advice; and
	efficiency savings through shared corporate services and operational synergies.
	Further work is currently under way to ensure that the impact of these changes can be measured against an agreed baseline.
	The new agency will be accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for the exercise of its functions. Its annual report and accounts will be laid before Parliament and its performance will be monitored by Ministers as part of the corporate planning and reporting cycles.

Wrecked Vehicles

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate the restoration on private land of the vehicle to which Early Day Motion 953, tabled by the hon. Member for Pendle, refers; and if she will bring forward proposals to amend the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill to bring within its scope wrecked vehicles deposited on private land by their owners.

Alun Michael: I am not able to comment on the particular case cited. However, I believe the existing law on abandoned vehicles, with the amendments contained in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, is adequate. I do not think that these provisions should be used to remove vehicles from private land against the wishes of the occupier. The effect on the visual amenity of a neighbourhood of vehicles kept on private land is a matter for the planning authorities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Counter-terrorism

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what input the Government will have to the European Council's contribution to (a) the G8 summit's discussions on counter-terrorism and (b) the G8's core principles on counter-terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Chair of the European Council usually attends G8 Summits. As the UK assumes the presidency of the EU from 1 July, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will also represent the European Council at the G8 Summit. We do not envisage formal co-ordination in the Council on the issue of counter-terrorism in the G8 ahead of the Summit. However, the UK, as G8 presidency, maintains a dialogue on G8 counter-terrorism work with EU partners.

European Funding

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list projects for which the Department has provided joint funding with the European Commission and other institutions of the European Union during the past five financial years; and what funding is planned for such projects in this financial year.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has worked together with various European institutions on a number of projects in the last five years.
	In October 2003, the FCO and European Commission jointly organised the Europe United" football tournament as part of the plans to celebrate EU enlargement. In early 2004 the FCO produced with Commission support booklets explaining the benefits of EU enlargement that were sent to the nine English regions and the devolved administrations. On 24 April 2004, there was 'Europe Day—Meet the Neighbours'—a jointly organised FCO-Commission project which celebrated EU enlargement.
	The European Parliament funded jointly with the FCO a number of Wilton Park conferences: The European Union's Strategic Priorities (14–16 September 2000); Reforming the Governance of the European Union: Towards an ever closer EU? (22–24 October 2001); HowCan Parliamentarians Best Re-Engage the Public? (9–12 June 2003); The Future of Europe: What kind of Institutional and Security arrangements do we want (September 2002). In addition, the European Parliament hired an Exhibition Space at the Europe Day.
	The FCO and EU institutions also jointly fund a number of development projects aimed to assist accession states prior to their joining the European Union, under the 'Action Plans' scheme, which started in 1999 and the Global Opportunities Fund which started in 2003. The Global Opportunity Fund also has a broader focus beyond Europe. I will write to my hon. Friend with further details of joint funded projects under the Actions Plans the Global Opportunities Fund.
	No jointly-funded projects are currently planned for this year, with the exception of the Action Plan and Global Opportunity Fund programmes.

Iran

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities to encourage them to co-operate with international human rights organisations.

Bill Rammell: We have urged Iran on many occasions to co-operate with international human rights organisations. In December 2004, the UK and other EU countries co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on human rights in Iran, which called on Iran to co-operate with UN mechanisms and respond fully to their subsequent recommendations. With our strong support, international NGOs take part in sessions of the EU-Iran human rights dialogue.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times lawyers representing Saddam Hussein have met their client since 16 December 2004.

Bill Rammell: Saddam Hussein is a criminal detainee and is liable to prosecution under the Iraqi criminal justice system. He was transferred into the Iraqi criminal justice system on 1 July 2004, and is currently awaiting trial. At the request of Prime Minster Allawi, the US will maintain physical custody of Saddam Hussein until such time as the Iraqi Correctional Service is able to provide for his safe and secure detention. The US authorities have told us that Saddam Hussein has seen his lawyer once since 16 December 2004. He has not requested to see his lawyer since that meeting.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many lawyers chosen by Saddam Hussein have been able to meet him in confidence, as required by international law, since his arrest.

Bill Rammell: Saddam Hussein is a criminal detainee and is liable to prosecution under the Iraqi criminal justice system. He was transferred into the Iraqi criminal justice system on 1 July 2004, and is currently awaiting trial. At the request of Prime Minster Allawi, the US will maintain physical custody of Saddam Hussein until such time as the Iraqi Correctional Service is able to provide for his safe and secure detention. The US authorities have told us that Saddam Hussein has seen his lawyer on each occasion that he has made a request. Thus far he has met one lawyer one time for several hours, in confidence. Neither he nor his lawyer of record have made any further requests to meet. Procedures are in place to allow him lawyer visits on request.

Lebanon

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the security situation in Lebanon of Syrian troops making a full withdrawal; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The withdrawal of Syrian troops to the Beka'a Valley and Syria is a first step in the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. We welcome the steps that the Lebanese Government have taken to ensure a calm security situation, including at the large-scale peaceful rallies that have been taking place in Beirut. So far, the Lebanese security forces have shown themselves to be capable of filling the security role left by the departing Syrian troops.
	We are concerned about the recent bomb explosions which killed three and injured five on 23 March, and injured eight on 19 March. We condemn all such attacks which seek to de-stabilise Lebanon.

Pakistan

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the request by the chairman of Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission to the nuclear security conference in London that the nuclear suppliers group lift controls on the export of dual-use nuclear technology to Pakistan.

Denis MacShane: Countering the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology is a key priority of the Government.
	Given that Pakistan remains outside the Non Proliferation Treaty, and has placed very few nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, it is difficult for suppliers to be confident that transfers of dual-use nuclear technology will not contribute to a nuclear explosive activity. Any lifting of these controls would require amending the Nuclear Suppliers Group Guidelines, which would need the unanimous agreement of all 44 Participating Governments.
	The UK's position on the export of Nuclear Dual Use items remains as set out by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Bradshaw) in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, columns 1298–1300W. It states, inter alia, that:
	We will continue to deny all export licence applications (ELAs) for items listed on the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Dual use list to nuclear and nuclear related end users in India and Pakistan".

Somalia

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the political situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We, together with international partners, support the progress Somalis are making to reintroduce effective government. We welcome the efforts that are being made to create the conditions necessary for the safe return of the Transitional Federal Institutions and to plan for bringing much needed stability to the country.
	We were, however, concerned by the violent confrontation in the Transitional Federal Parliament at the end of the debate on deployment of foreign troops for a peace support mission in Somalia. We welcome efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union to find an acceptable formula for a peace support operation.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by his Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Bill Rammell: pursuant to the reply, 10 January 2005, Official Report, c.28W
	My answer of 10 January to the hon. Member was incorrect. The correct answer should read as follows:
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has two 0870 telephone numbers which are designed to allow members of the public to call the FCO in London from anywhere in the United Kingdom at national rates. There is no revenue generated for the Government from use of these telephone numbers.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Bill Rammell: pursuant to the reply, 10 January 2005, Official Report, c. 28W
	My answer of 10 January to the hon. Member was incorrect. The correct answer should read as follows:
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has two 0870 telephone numbers designed to allow members of the public to call the FCO in London from anywhere in the UK. Calls are charged at national rates, and there is no revenue generated for the Government.

United Nations (Reforms)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the UN Secretary-General about reforms of the UN.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have had regular discussions with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on his plans to reform the UN.
	The Secretary-General, Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and I were present at an event in February at Banqueting House launching a UK public debate on UN reform, at which the challenges facing the UN and the international community were addressed.
	We have warmly welcomed the publication of the Secretary-General's report issued on 21 March In Larger Freedom" and support the strong lead Kofi Annan is providing. The report is an important landmark on the way to the Millennium Review Summit in September, which will shape the UN's agenda for years to come. The UK intends to play an active role in the summit and its preparation, as a committed supporter of the UN and holder of the G8 and EU presidencies at the time.

Weapons (Non-proliferation)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist the G8 in its aims on non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear weapons, with particular reference to source material for such weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We are committed to using the UK's Presidency to take forward the Action Plan on Non-Proliferation agreed by G8 Leaders at the Sea Island Summit in June 2004. In particular, we are working to ensure that new measures are put in place to limit the spread of sensitive nuclear technology to states that may seek to use them for weapons purposes, or allow them to fall into terrorist hands. Another priority is to promote co-ordination between governments and international organisations to counter the threat of bioterrorism. At the same time, we are working to ensure that the commitment of both G8 partners and other countries to the Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction leads to the continued effective implementation of collaborative projects to address legacy proliferation risks in partner countries in the Former Soviet Union.

HEALTH

Choosing Health"

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which elements of the extra funding made available to implement the public health White Paper, Choosing Health", will be ring-fenced.

Melanie Johnson: Over £1 billion of additional funding is available to meet the Choosing Health" commitments over the next three years. Around half of this funding has been allocated to primary care trusts in their general allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08. None of this funding is ring-fenced. The remainder is being held centrally to fund national action, such as public health campaigns, or will be allocated for specific local action at a future date.

Blind Diabetic Patients

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to make talking diabetic monitoring machines available for blind or partially sighted diabetic patients in England.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently no talking" or audible blood glucose meters marketed in the United Kingdom. No blood testing meters of any kind are currently available on general practitioner prescription, although blood testing strips are.
	In the past, talking" blood glucose meters were marketed, but were withdrawn for commercial reasons outside the Department's control. The Department cannot influence which products are marketed in this country, or the price that manufacturers charge. We have received no application from any company to have audible blood glucose testing equipment made available.

Climate Change

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely change in incidence in UK citizens of (a) Dengue Fever, (b) malaria and (c) meningitis arising from climate change; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Dengue Fever and malaria occurs in United Kingdom citizens as travel-related infections acquired abroad. The Chief Medical Officer's national expert panel on new and emerging infections recently considered the risks posed by vector-borne diseases and concluded that they do not pose any significant public health threat in the UK and that climate changes are unlikely to lead to any significant increase in such diseases.
	Reported cases of laboratory confirmed meningitis for England and Wales has shown a slight decline in recent years. The impact of climate changes globally upon the incidence of meningitis in the UK population cannot be predicted.

Dentistry (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were registered for NHS dental services in Burnley in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the figures for registrations for national health service dental services in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale primary care trust (PCT) area since September 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of people registered 
		
		
			 1997 142,493 
			 1998 127,786 
			 1999 126,366 
			 2000 122,466 
			 2001 96,813 
			 2002 94,073 
			 2003 96,361 
			 2004 97,181 
		
	
	The drop in registrations between 1997 and 2004 is mostly attributable to the reduction in the re-registration period for patients from two years to 15 months. The figures also exclude patients treated in dental access centres (DACs) who are not registered. In 2004, there were some 375,000 episodes of treatment in the 48 DACs then in operation in England.
	During 2004, there was a large switch to personal dental services (PDS) in the PCT area. For patient registrations (or for where registration does not apply, patients seen in the past 15 months), the PDS number rose from 1,900 at the end of December 2003 to 47,200 at the end of December 2004.
	The Government remain determined to improve access to NHS dentistry and has introduced a number of initiatives which will help bring about improvements nationally and more locally. PCT funding for dentistry will increase by 19.3 per cent., from 2003–04 to 2005–06. Consequently, over £250 million of additional resources will be provided by 2005–06.
	A NHS support team has been created to work with those PCTs which are experiencing most difficulty in terms of access. PCTs across East Lancashire, including Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are benefiting from theefforts of the support team. The Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT has so far received £540,000 recurrently from the support team. £28,000 has also been provided to the PCT as part of the dental access moneys provided to the Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority (SHA).
	The PCT has facilitated some dental access sessions as part of the work of the four PDS schemes in the area. The PCT also has robust plans in place, which will also help to improve access levels over the next three years resulting in an additional 32,000 places for patients on dental lists.
	Although the PCT has so far not recruited any international dentists, it is participating in the SHA-wide scheme which is working towards boosting recruitment from this source.

Drugs

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people from (a) Leeds and (b) Leeds, West have completed drug addiction rehabilitation courses in each of the last 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the format requested.

Fluoridation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities have expressed an interest in fluoridating their water supply.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is aware thatGreater Manchester strategic health authority has expressed interest in the fluoridation of water supplies.

Food Supplements Directive

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the Food Supplements Directive does not place a disproportionate burden on small businesses.

Melanie Johnson: An assessment of the economic impact of the Food Supplements Regulations was made in the regulatory impact assessment, which was published with the national regulations implementing this directive. This included an assessment of the impact on small businesses.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has offered to assist the industry, including small businesses, by providing technical advice on preparation of the safety dossiers that are needed for any unlisted ingredients to remain on the market. The agency has also published an up to date list of ingredients where dossiers have been submitted to the United Kingdom and other member states to ensure that dossiers are not produced unnecessarily. I have also encouraged companies to work together with respect to producing dossiers to reduce the burden on industry.

Friarage Hospital, Northallerton

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.

Melanie Johnson: As part of the Tees Health Review, involving the independent advice of Professor Sir Ara Darzi, it was agreed that Professor Darzi would examine two additional areas to his original terms of reference. One of these areas was the work under way by the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust and South Tees Hospitals National Health Service Trust in relation to the Friarage Hospital.
	Professor Darzi will submit his report later this year. No decision regarding the future of the Friarage Hospital has been made. Any proposals which concern changes to current services will be subject to a formal period of consultation.

Friarage Hospital, Northallerton

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the Friarage hospital of the Working Time Directive.

Melanie Johnson: Friarage hospital is part of the South Tees hospitals national health service trust. This trust has achieved compliance with the European Working Time Directive.

Health Food Supplements

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in England and Wales using health food supplements.

Melanie Johnson: The Department have not made a recent estimate of the number of people in England and Wales using health supplements.

Health Statistics (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of adults were registered with a NHS dentist in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not have population figures pre-2001 for Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	The table shows the percentage of adults who were registered with a national health service dentist in the Shropshire county PCT area in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Adult registrations Adult population Percentage registered 
		
		
			 1997 100,786 218,150 46.20 
			 1998 82,470 219,500 37.57 
			 1999 77,586 220,500 35.19 
			 2000 75,689 221,600 34.16 
			 2001 74,104 222,264 33.34 
			 2002 75,403 224,259 33.62 
			 2003 71,094 225,611 31.51 
			 2004 71,785 226,100 31.75 
		
	
	The drop in registrations between September 1997 and September 1998 is mostly attributable to the reduction in the re-registration period from two years to 15 months. The figures exclude patients treated in dental access centres (DACs) who are not registered. In 2004, there were some 375,000 episodes of treatment in the 48 DACs then in operation in England.

Hepatitis C (Parliamentary Report)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department expects to respond to the All-Party Parliamentary Group report on Hepatitis C.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is considering the report.

Hospital-acquired Conditions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost of treating a patient with (a) MRSA and (b) pressure sores in the last year.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 18 March 2005
	The reference costs data provides unit cost information for a variety of procedures, treatments and services undertaken by the national health service in England for a given financial year. However, the costs of treating methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" and pressure sores cannot be separately identified from the information collected centrally.

Influenza Pandemic

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to refresh stockpiles of antivirals.

Melanie Johnson: Plans are in place to refresh stockpiles of antivirals in line with the expected shelf life of the drugs.

Influenza Pandemic

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to (a) encourage major employers to purchase antivirals for their employees and (b) encourage training of professionals to deal with an influenza pandemic.

Melanie Johnson: The Department does not currently have plans to encourage employers to purchase antivirals.
	We are preparing documents to support the national health service with the impact of a 'flu pandemic. These will encourage the training of staff.

Influenza Pandemic

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is allocated to the communications strategy in the UK influenza pandemic community plan; and if he will make a statement on the role of the media in that strategy.

Melanie Johnson: The strategy is being developed and will be funded as appropriate.
	The media will be a crucial mechanism for ensuring our key messages reach the full range of audiences during a flu pandemic. A communications strategy was published as an annex to the United Kingdom influenza pandemic contingency plan, which is available in the Library and can be found on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu.

Influenza Pandemic

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the documents known as sleeping scripts, for the purpose of advising patients in the event of an influenza pandemic, to which reference is made on page 46 of the UK Influenza Pandemic Plan, to be published by NHS 24 and NHS Direct; and how frequently these scripts will be reviewed.

Melanie Johnson: The sleeping scripts have been developed by national health service clinicians with input from experts at the Health Protection Agency (HPA). They have been available within NHS Direct since November 2004 and were made available to NHS24 in early 2005. All sleeping scripts are automatically reviewed on an annual basis and changes can be made immediately should any new evidence/information become apparent in the period between reviews. In the event of a pandemic, the joint HPA/NHS project group would review and amend the scripts as often as required by the Department, to ensure that updated information was incorporated.

Mental Health Services (Leeds)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure of the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust, and its successor trust, was on mental health services in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The table shows the total operating expenses for the Leeds Community and Mental Health National Health Service Trust and its successor trust, the Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust.
	
		£000
		
			  Total operating expenses 
		
		
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health NHS Trust 
			 1996–97 85,361 
			 1997–98 91,283 
			 1998–99 91,423 
			 1999–2000 97,778 
			 2000–01 113,014 
			 2001–02 122,226 
			 2002–03 92,972 
			   
			 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 
			 2003–04 90,635 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Data relating to the accounts of individual NHS bodies is not held prior to 1996–97.
	2.Expenditure cannot be split between mental health services and other services.
	Sources:
	1.Audited summarisation schedules of the Leeds Community and Mental Health NHS Trust 1996–97 to 2002–03.
	2.Audited summarisation schedules of the Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 2003–04.

Mental Health Services (Leeds)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health patients have been treated as (a) inpatients and (b) outpatients by the Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust and its successor trust in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The table shows the outpatient attendances under mental illness specialities by gender for the Leeds Mental Health Teaching National Health Service Trust and its predecessor trust.
	
		Consultant outpatient attendances—Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust(1) (RGD), 1991–92 to 2003–04
		
			  First attendances seen Subsequent attendances seen Total attendances seen 
		
		
			 2003–04(2) 4,633 40,209 44,842 
			 2002–03(2) 6,083 37,149 43,232 
			 2001–02 7,299 38,578 45,877 
			 2000–01 7,467 38,663 46,130 
			 1999–2000 7,492 61,309 68,801 
			 1998–99 5,729 59,363 65,092 
			 1997–98 5,910 55,813 61,723 
			 1996–97 4,977 48,240 53,217 
			 1995–96 4,830 52,866 57,696 
			 1994–95 4,288 50,886 55,174 
			 1993–94 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1992–93 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1991–92 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	(1)Prior to 2002, the trust was known as Leeds Community and Mental Health trust.
	(2)Data for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04 have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e., the data is ungrossed) and unknown/invalid clinical data.
	Source:
	QMOP/KH09, Department, of Health returns.

MRSA

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded deaths in University of Leicester Hospital Trust have been directly caused by MRSA infections in each year since 1999.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 21 March 2005
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

MRSA

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve the tracking of sterile medical devices in hospitals, with particular reference to infection control.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State (Ms Winterton), on 21 March 2005, Official Report, columns 625–26W.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions the Government have had with producers of alcohol concerning the Health Select Committee report on obesity.

Melanie Johnson: There have been no such discussions.

Obesity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support he is providing to the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust's national obesity helpline.

Melanie Johnson: We are aware of the work of The Obesity and Solutions Trust and have previously supported it for two years from 2001 to 2003 through the Section 64 grant scheme.

Salt

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many grammes a day of salt the Government regards as necessary for adult (a) males and (b) females; and what the latest advice from the Government's scientific advisers is on the minimum daily intake of salt required by humans to survive.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 24 March 2005
	In its 2003 report on salt and health, the scientific advisory committee on nutrition (SACN), which advises Government on nutrition and health, stated that the lowest population average intakes of sodium consistent with apparent good health in adults ranged between 1.75 grams and 2.3 grams of salt per day. In 1994, the committee on medical aspects of food and nutrition policy recommended that the population average salt intake should be reduced by a third to six grams per day as an achievable target. This was endorsed by the SACN in 2003 and the Government set a target to reduce the average population intake to six grams per day by 2010 in line with the recommendation.

Schizophrenia (Cannabis Use)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the evidence of an increased risk of developing schizophrenia resulting from (a) early age and (b) chronic use of cannabis;
	(2)  whether his Department has established an inquiry into evidence linking early age and chronic use of cannabis to higher risk of developing schizophrenia.

Melanie Johnson: There is a widely recognised strengthening of the evidence in recent years of an association between early use of cannabis and the risk of later development of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia. The evidence of a causal link has also strengthened, although there is not a full consensus on the issue.
	The Department monitors all the key research in this area and has a range of expert advisers to inform policy. The Department is currently commissioning an academic 'expert topic review' of research on cannabis and mental health, with the aim that its findings will inform mental health promotion regarding cannabis and will also help us ensure our advice to mental health patients, their families and professionals continues to be comprehensive and up-to-date.
	In addition, the independent advisory council on the misuse of drugs (ACMD), which advises my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, on the harms relating to controlled drugs, including cannabis, has been keeping the emerging evidence under review. Additionally, on 18 March 2005, my right hon. Friend formally asked ACM D to review the recent research studies in this area and to advise on this. The Department will support this process.
	There is a range of current health promotion materials and drugs advice approved by the Department, which is aimed particularly at young people, that already draws attention to the important mental health risks of cannabis, including the risk that use can trigger serious mental, health problems. This will continue to be updated in the light of the emerging evidence.

South Tees Hospital Trust

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with South Tees hospital trust on its financial position; and what assessment he has made of its plans for (a) staff appointments, (b) shift patterns and overtime for permanent staff and (c) timing of operations.

Melanie Johnson: The role of Health Ministers and the Department is to secure adequate resources for funding the national health service and to set out a strategic framework for it to work within. This allows decisions about local NHS services to be taken at a local level.
	In line with Shifting the Balance of Power", strategic health authorities (SHAs) performance manage the NHS organisations within their area. The SHAs will work in partnership with primary care trusts and local health providers to determine how best to use the funds allocated, to meet national and local priorities for improving health, to tackle health inequalities and modernise services.

South Tees Hospital Trust

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of National Insurance contributions to the South Tees hospital trust in (a) 1997–98, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2003–04.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the public service agreement target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 will be met.

Melanie Johnson: The public service agreement (PSA) target is jointly owned by the Department of Health, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Skills in recognition that cross-Government action will be necessary to tackle this major public health issue.
	The delivery plan for the White Paper, Choosing Health", together with action plans focusing on nutrition and activity published recently, demonstrates how delivery of the White Paper commitments will contribute to the PSA target.

Weight Loss Guide

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Weight Loss Guide announced in the Public Health White Paper; how he intends to consult stakeholders; if he will ensure that controlled carbohydrate dietary approaches are considered in this process; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health", makes a commitment to issue a weight loss guide by July 2005. The content and process of developing the guide are still under discussion.

DEFENCE

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Ivor Caplin: Accidents at work are recorded onto the Central Health and Safety Project Database (CHASP), and are given in the following table by financial year.
	
		
			 Financial year Ministry of Defence employee on Ministry of Defence premises Member of the public on Ministry of Defence premises 
		
		
			 1999–2000 8,414 1,724 
			 2000–01 7,800 1,651 
			 2001–02 6,370 1,684 
			 2002–03 5,565 2,029 
			 2003–04 5,091 2,243 
		
	
	The figures for 'Members of the Public' includes all persons visiting MOD premises including contractors who are not MOD employees.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Since 1998, accidents in the Department have been recorded onto the Central Health and Safety Project Database (CHASP). Reports giving the numbers, types and rates of accidents in the Department are produced annually. I have instructed officials to place copies of these annual reports in the Library of the House.

Aegis Defence Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has (a) supplied to and (b) received from the United States Administration regarding that Government's award of the Iraq Reconstruction Security Support Services contract to Aegis Defence Services.

Geoff Hoon: The contract with Aegis Defence Services Ltd. was placed by the United States Administration.
	The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence/Pricing and Forecasting Group provided the US Administration with an audit report on the cost accounting system and the financial status of Aegis Defence Services Ltd. This was in response to a standard request from the US Administration placed under the US/UK Defense Co-Operation Memorandum of Understanding—Annex III Reciprocal Audits.
	Pricing and Forecasting Group have not been asked to provide further advice beyond that. The ownership of the information contained within the audit report remains the sole property of the US Administration.

Air Cadets Organisation

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) role and (b) purpose of the Air Cadets organisation is.

Ivor Caplin: The Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) is a national youth organisation that comprises the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Royal Air Force Sections of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF(RAF)). The ACO exists to promote a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force, training useful to service or civilian employment, good citizenship and leadership, as well as a sense of adventure amongst the young men and women who become Air Cadets. The ACO also encourages membership of schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which provides practical, cultural and adventurous activities, including an emphasis on helping others in the local community.

Armed Forces Discipline

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been (a) disciplined, (b) court-martialled and (c) dismissed for alcohol misuse or behaviour related to alcohol misuse since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: The number of recorded disciplinary cases and subsequent dismissals for alcohol misuse in the armed forces since 1997 are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Summary discipline(3) 3,421 
			 Courts-martial 213 
			 Dismissed 9 
		
	
	(3)Cases dealt with at summary level are not available for the Naval Service prior to 2001, the Army prior to October 2000 and for RAF officers prior to 2001.
	These figures represent the number of those charged with drunkenness and vehicle alcohol related offences. They exclude those charged with other offences (egcriminal damage) where alcohol may have been a factor.

Army Training Regiment

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Army Training Regiment will remain based at the Whittington Barracks near Lichfield following his review of his Department's property; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2004, Official Report, column 110W. The study into the future of Army Training Regiment Lichfield and Whittington Barracks will not be concluded until June 2005.

Bowman System

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the integration of Bowman into the (a) Royal Armoured Corps and (b) Infantry; and when he expects the system to be fully operational;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the fitting of the Bowman radio system into warrior armoured fighting vehicles.

Adam Ingram: We are progressively integrating the Bowman communications system into military vehicles, ships supporting amphibious operations, and support helicopters. Military vehicles are converted while units are in their training period. The first Royal Armoured Corps and Infantry units to be equipped with and trained to operate Bowman are within 12 Mechanised Brigade, which will deploy to Iraq in the spring with a core Bowman capability.
	We are addressing the outstanding issues involved in integrating Bowman into Challenger main battle tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. This will inform decisions on when Bowman-fitted Challenger and Warrior vehicles are ready to deploy on operations.
	We have always planned for Bowman, like other complex programmes, to be developed and delivered incrementally over a number of years. We currently expect the complete capability to be delivered next year, and for the conversion programme to continue up to 2008.

British Nuclear Deterrent

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the death toll that would arise from the use of one of the UK's (a) tactical and (b) strategic nuclear warheads on a population centre of (i) 100,000, (ii) 1 million and (iii)5 million inhabitants.

Geoff Hoon: The UK has no tactical nuclear weapons.
	The casualties that might arise from the use of a nuclear weapon depend on a wide range of variable factors. These include the yield and design of the weapon; the accuracy of the delivery system; the nature and construction of the target; the geographical characteristics of the surrounding terrain; geological conditions in the target area; the height of weapon burst; and the weather conditions at the target.

Cancer/Leukaemia

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths of (a) former soldiers and (b) his Department's personnel have been attributable to (i) cancer and (ii) leukaemia in each of the last 20 years.

Ivor Caplin: Apart from Ministry of Defence studies into specific groups, e.g. veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict, there is no mortality data routinely collected on former Service personnel. Information on the causes of death of civilian personnel is not collected by the Department.

Counter-terrorism

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive regarding the formulation of the European Council's position on counter-terrorism.

Geoff Hoon: None.

Deaths in Action

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK army personnel have been killed in action overseas in each year since 1981, broken down by regiment.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Estate

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list farmers and farm companies which rent land from his Department on Salisbury Plain; how much land, in hectares, each of these rent; and which of these farms have been used for military training purposes in the last five years.

Ivor Caplin: Forty three farmers or farm companies currently rent land from the MOD on Salisbury Plain. The information requested is shown below, although, in accordance with the Data Protection Act these have not been listed by name.
	Land is categorised as either schedule I, or scheduleIII (there is no longer a schedule II). Military training takes place over all schedule III land. ScheduleI land on Salisbury Plain is arable in nature, and located around the edges of the training and impact areas acting as a buffer zone between military activities and the civilian population. Land designated as schedule I attracts higher rents. Generally speaking, schedule I land is not used for training, but depending upon the terms of an individual agreement, and the rights reserved under it, some training may take place, with compensation payable in the event of damage being caused by military personnel.
	It should be noted that the total number of hectares let out has altered since my last answer on 10 February, and will change again in the next month as work is concluded on grazing licences under the mid-term review.
	The table details current information where the farm is depicted by a serial number, the relevant schedule and the number of hectares involved.
	
		
			 Farm no. Schedule 1 land in hectares Schedule III in hectares 
		
		
			 1 180.36 409.33 
			 2 285.13 824.33 
			 3 24.01 542.13 
			 4 147.3 202.58 
			 5 97.05 0.00 
			 6 129.83 2,165.64 
			 7 0.00 2.50 
			 8 0.00 706.13 
			 9 43.3 298.24 
			 10 256.1 119.10 
			 11 214.1 283.54 
			 12 42.02 160.95 
			 13 313.95 394.73 
			 14 88.0 1,588.72 
			 15 39.46 607.71 
			 16 93.38 283.13 
			 17 99.16 442.39 
			 18 45.21 1,305.6 
			 20 36.02 225.59 
			 21 16.0 538.77 
			 22 218.09 1,099.96 
			 23 184.08 473.48 
			 24 21.82 14.36 
			 25 139.74 263.19 
			 26 209.09 407.55 
			 27 175.08 551.85 
			 28 104.05 1,631.66 
			 29 172.07 24.80 
			 30 0.00 149.86 
			 31 146.06 609.27 
			 32 87.04 0.00 
			 33 59.02 740.82 
			 34 142.06 33.38 
			 35 103.76 956.33 
			 36 0.00 21.91 
			 37 50.47 155.07 
			 38 0.00 179.38 
			 39 390.22 909.12 
			 40 107.98 0.00 
			 41 453.39 870.28 
			 42 325.15 201.78 
			 43 27.69 170.07 
			 Total 5,267.24 20,565.23 
			 Grand total  25,832.47

Defence Estate

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the income per hectare in 2005 which would be derived from the rental of land owned by his Department to farmers at full market value.

Ivor Caplin: Rents are negotiated on a case by case basis and reflect sometimes onerous conditions which this department has to impose on tenants. Rents thus reflect what the market will bear" and this is effectively the full market rent for those sites. Bearing that in mind, the average income per hectare for 2005 is estimated at £34.62.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 February 2005, Official Report, column 652W, on the Defence Export Services Organisation, which Ministers attended the Defence Export Services Organisation Symposium on 9 March.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 March 2005
	The Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister for Defence Procurement, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr.Rammell, participated in the Defence Export Services Organisation Symposium on 9 March 2005.

Defence Service Agencies (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget for each financial year since 1997–98 the Naval Manning Agency spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a percentage of the total personnel budget for that year; how many personnel were employed in Scotland in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Both Civilian and Service personnel data by Agency are collated annually at 1 April and presented in Table 2.6 of the United Kingdom Defence Statistics, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House. Further information on personnel figures is available on the DASA website at www.dasa.mod.uk
	The number of Service personnel employed by Agency and location is not collated centrally. However, locally held records were available and have been included in the following table.
	A table showing numbers of Civilian personnel by MOD Agency, for the Agency as a total and those employed in Scotland specifically, for the period 1 April 1997 to 1 January 2005, has also been published on the Defence Analytical Services Agency website, www.dasa.mod.uk, and is also lodged in the Library of the House. However, no civilian staff were employed in Scotland by the Naval Manning Agency.
	The information asked for is shown in the following table. The NMA ceased to be an agency on 31 March 2004.
	
		Personnel employed in Scotland by the Naval Manning Agency from April 1997 to March 2004
		
			  Monetary value (£ million) Number Percentage of total spend on Naval Manning Agency personnel 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 0 0 
			 1998–99 0 0 0 
			 1999–2000 0 0 0 
			 2000–01 0.067 less than 5 0.59 
			 2001–02 0.085 less than 5 0.66 
			 2002–03 0.097 less than 5 0.69 
			 2003–04 0.105 less than 5 0.74

Defence Service Agencies (Scotland)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of its personnel budget for each financial year since 1997–98 the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a percentage of the total personnel budget for that year; how many personnel were employed in Scotland in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are unable to answer the question fully, as personnel cost statistics by geographical area are not held.
	Details held by AFPAA of MOD staff employed in Scotland are as follows:
	
		
			 Date AFPAA MOD civilians employed in Scotland AFPAA MOD Service personnel employed in Scotland 
		
		
			 April 1997 Nil Nil 
			 April 1998 Nil Nil 
			 April 1999 Nil Nil 
			 April 2000 Nil Nil 
			 April 2001 Nil Nil 
			 April 2002 110 10 
			 April 2003 20 10 
			 April 2004 20 10 
			 January 2005 30 10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.MOD figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2.MOD civilians numbers employed by the agency in Scotland were published in the United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2004, but not in previous editions.
	Both civilian and Service personnel data by agency are collated annually at 1 April and presented in Table2.6 of UK Defence Statistics, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. Further information on personnel figures is available on the DASA website at www.dasa.mod.uk.
	The number of Service personnel employed by agency and location is not collated centrally. However, locally held records were available and have been included.
	A table showing numbers of civilian personnel by MOD agency, for the agency as a total and those employed in Scotland specifically, for the period 1 April 1997 to 1 January 2005, has also been published on the Defence Analytical Services Agency website, www.dasa.mod.uk, and has been placed in the Library of the House.
	The civilian workforce numbers have been collated from centrally held records and may be different to locally produced numbers. However, all numbers in the table are produced using the agreed standard definition of civilian workforce, in full-time equivalent terms (part-time staff are counted only in proportion to the number of hours worked compared to the normal full-time hours) and are rounded to the nearest 10 to preserve confidentiality.

Departmental Finances

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which public corporations his Department received a receipt from a dividend payment or equity withdrawal in financial years 1997–98 to 2003–04; what the value of each receipt was; and whether receipts were (a) appropriated in aid of his Department and (b) surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.

Adam Ingram: Dividends and equity withdrawals for public corporations for the years commencing 1999–2000 are shown below. For the purposes of the response, Trading Funds are regarded as public corporations for budgeting purposes by HM Treasury and are therefore included.
	The required information in respect of years 1997–98 and 1998–99 is included in the Appropriation Accounts for the respective years. These accounts have been placed in the Library of House.
	
		£000
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Dividend  
			 Appropriations in Aid Trading Funds:  
			 Defence Research and Evaluation Agency (DERA) — 25,000 5,000 — — 
			 The UK Hydrographic Office — 2,144 2,431 2,587 2,902 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) — — — 6,000 6,000 
			 Surrendered to the Consolidated Fund Trading Funds:  
			 DERA 25,000 — — — — 
			 The UK Hydrographic Office 1,794 — — — — 
			   
			 Equity withdrawal (including loan repayments)  
			 Appropriations-in-Aid Repayment of loans made to Trading Funds:
			 DERA 7,586 7,586 — — — 
			 The UK Hydrographic Office 219 237 258 279 303 
			 Met Office 8,032 10,936 — — — 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) — — 7,115 2,115 7,240 
			 DSTL — — 2,128 2,128 2,128 
			 Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) — — — 5,155 14,155 
			 Surrendered to the Consolidated Fund Public Corporation:  
			 QinetiQ—loan repayment — — 50,000 49,900 4,214 
			 QinetiQ—proceeds received on sale of equity — — — 39,427 —

End-to-end Logistics

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written statement of 10 March 2005, Official Report, column 120WS, on end-to-end logistics, if he will give details of the redundancies listed in the other changes category.

Adam Ingram: The written ministerial statement on 10 March listed the estimated reductions in the number of posts at a number of RAF Stations as a result of the application of end-to-end logistic principles. It did not offer any redundancy estimates, since the reduction in the number of posts will be managed primarily through voluntary staff transfers, natural wastage and a voluntary release scheme.

First World War Medals

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of keeping the first world war medal index cards is; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: It is estimated that the cost to the Ministry of Defence of continuing to store these records is in the order of £1,000 per month.

Gibraltar Services Police

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the statutory basis is for the Gibraltar Services Police; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The Gibraltar Services Police is a statutory police force established under the Police Ordinance (Laws of Gibraltar) Section 51(1)(2).

Gurkhas

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkhas in the UK armed forces are aged (a) 16 and (b) 17 years old.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 February 2005 there are no soldiers aged 16 or 17 years of age serving in the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Infantry Manning

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will publish the recent reports of the Director of Infantry's study for the Army Board on Infantry Manning;
	(2)  if he will publish all recent papers for the Executive Committee of the Army Board.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 January 2005
	I am withholding the documents in question since releasing the papers would prejudice the effective formulation of government policy, on the basis that it would discourage the consideration of the full range of options thereby interfering with the effective conduct of business.
	In arriving at this judgment, I have weighed carefully the public interest in disclosure against the harm that Iassess would result from doing so. I have also taken into account the full description of the Government's decisions which have already been provided to Parliament.
	However, I am making an exception with the statistical information about manning levels which informed ECAB's consideration of how the reduction by four battalions should be effected. Copies of this will be placed in the Library of the House.

Multi-national Exercises

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Royal Navy has to participate in multi-national military exercises in the next five years.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy is planning to participate in 35 multi-national exercises in 2005–06 and a large number of lower level tactical engagements with coalition partners. In 2006–07 the number of planned exercises stands at nine though this is likely to increase as planning progresses. Tactical engagements will continue at around the same level.

National Defence Industries Council

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the members of the National Defence Industries Council; and who the employer is in each case.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 March 2005
	We are in the process of reviewing the Terms of Reference and membership of the National Defence Industries Council (NDIC) in consultation with the Defence Industries Council. John Wall (Amicus) accepted the Secretary of State's invitation to join the NDIC and represent the Trade Unions. The current membership of the NDIC is:
	Industry
	Sir John Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls Royce and Chairman of the Defence Industries Council
	Alex Dorrian, Chief Executive, Thales plc
	Simon Frost, Chairman, Gardner Group Ltd.
	Colin Green, President Defence Aerospace, Rolls Royce plc
	Martin Jay, Chairman, VT Group plc and President of the Society of the Maritime Industries
	Gordon Page, Chairman, Cobham plc
	Tony Pryor, Vice President, Maritime, Government and Infrastructure, KBR
	Clive Richardson, Deputy CEO, AMS and Vice President Defence, Intellect
	Peter Smart, Managing Director, Aspire Defence, and Chairman of the Defence Manufacturers Association
	Kevin Smith, Chief Executive, GKN plc and President of the Society of British Aerospace Companies
	Mike Turner, Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems plc
	Dr. Sally Howes, Secretary of the Defence Industries Council, and DG Society of British Aerospace Companies
	Government
	Secretary of State for Defence
	Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	Minister for Defence Procurement
	Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, DTI
	MOD Permanent Under Secretary
	Chief of Defence Procurement/Chief Executive Defence Procurement Agency
	Chief Defence Logistics
	MOD Chief Scientific Adviser
	Head of Defence Export Services
	Deputy Chief Executive/Defence Procurement Agency

Naval Sector Strategy Study

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 30W, on Naval Sector Strategy Study, whether any members of the Naval Sector Strategy Study are members of the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The Naval Sector Strategy Study (NSSS) is an industry-led initiative, and the study team does not include currently serving members of the armed forces. However, joint meetings between the NSSS and MOD led maritime study groups have taken place to co-ordinate the assumptions which underpin the studies.

Naval Sector Strategy Study

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what remit he has given to the armed forces members of the Naval Sector Strategy Study.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 30W.

Naval Shipbuilding Implementation Study

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2005, Official Report, column 1992, on the Naval Shipbuilding Implementation Study, if he will list the members of the Naval Shipbuilding Implementation Study.

Adam Ingram: Formal terms of reference for the Naval Shipbuilding Implementation Study, including its membership, are currently under review in consultation with industry.

Northern Ireland (Deaths in Service)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2005, Official Report, column 968W, on Northern Ireland, what investigations (a) have taken place and (b) are ongoing into these deaths.

Ivor Caplin: Investigations into the deaths of service personnel are a matter for the civil authorities, in particular the Police Service Northern Ireland and HM Coroner.

Pilot Training

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he is making to train combat pilots to withstand forces up to 12G.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing the provision to train combat pilots to withstand forces up to 12G. The outcome of this review is expected in the summer.

Pilot Training

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual costs were of providing RAF fast jet pilots with G-Force training in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The following table details the annual cost of providing RAF fast jet pilots with G-Force training in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Financial Year Expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 2000–01 4,053 
			 2001–02 20,268 
			 2002–03 16,215 
			 2003–04 28,376 
			 2004–05 34,780 
		
	
	These costs relate to NATO Flying Course, Centrifuge Training, NATO High G Training and Typhoon Training.

Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts with his Department have been won by subsidiaries of Halliburton in each year since 1997; what the terms were of each contract; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has let two private finance initiative (PFI) contracts and no public private partnership (PPP) contracts with subsidiaries of Halliburton since 1997.
	In December 2001 a contract was signed with the FASTRAX consortium which is led by the United Kingdom element of the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR).
	The contract is for the provision of Heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Services (i.e. primarily Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank), using Sponsored Reserves. The other consortium members are Oshkosh Truck Corporation, Deutsche Bank, King Trailers and Tru-hitch.
	Details are as follows:
	20 year PFI contract worth, in Whole Life Cost terms, approximately £290 million (excluding VAT).
	Service under the contract commenced on 7 July 2003 and became fully operational in July 2004.
	The project was awarded the Best Operational PFI Project" at the Public Private Partnership Industry awards in May 2004.
	In April 2003 a contract was signed with Brey Utilities a Yorkshire-based consortium comprising Yorkshire Water (45 per cent.), Earth Tech Engineering (45 per cent.) and the UK element of the Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) (10 per cent.).
	The contract is for the provision of water and wastewater services at over 3,000 MOD sites in the UK. Aquatrine Package A covers approximately 1,000 sites in the Midlands, Wales and South West England.
	Details are as follows:
	25 year PFI contract worth, in Whole Life Cost terms, approximately £1 billion (excluding VAT).
	Service delivery under the contract commenced and became fully operational on 1 December 2003.

Provisions

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on sourcing pork, bacon and ham bearing the British Pig Executive's Quality Standard Mark for the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Currently all pork consumed by British based armed forces is supplied from farms which comply to the new British Pig Executive's Quality Standard Mark or equivalent schemes, such as Assured British Pigs.

RAF St. Mawgan

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision was taken to place RAF St.Mawgan into care and maintenance; and when he expects to inform the House of the implications of this decision.

Adam Ingram: No RAF aircraft will, under current plans, be based at RAF St. Mawgan after the Search and Rescue Operational Conversion Unit departs in 2006–07. The decision, subject to appropriate Trades Union consultation, to place the airfield there onto a care and maintenance basis was taken shortly in advance of my announcement on 10 March. The implications of this decision are that the Department will not be expending resources on facilities for which there will be no military requirement.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hon. Members made representations to him indicating their preference for the name Royal Lancashire Regiment as a name for the new regiment in the North West.

Adam Ingram: No hon. Members have made representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, apart from the hon. Member for Chorley.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many letters were received from civic leaders regarding the new name for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment;
	(2)  what discussions took place with civic officials on the new name for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Adam Ingram: Over a dozen letters have been received from local government officials on the matter of infantry restructuring affecting the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, including on the particular issue of preserving the link between regiment and county.
	Neither the Secretary of State nor I had any discussions with civic officials on the name of the new West of Pennines regiment.

Royal Navy

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2005, Official Report, column 414W, on the Royal Navy, what the acronym STOROB stands for.

Adam Ingram: The removal of a ship's fitted equipment (or parts of it) for installation in another is known as STOROB, which stands for Stores Robbery. This is a formal process, but is used only as a last resort to meet high readiness operational commitments, and only where the demanded items are not available from other sources. Because of the impact on a given facet of the donor ship's capability, this is considered only when the donor ship is either reducing in readiness towards upkeep or disposal, or is already in upkeep.

Royal Navy

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2005, Official Report, column 414W, on the Royal Navy, how many Royal Navy ships are (a) in upkeep, (b) reducing in readiness towards upkeep and (c) reducing in readiness towards disposal.

Adam Ingram: There are currently 18 Royal Navy ships in upkeep, four ships reducing in readiness towards upkeep and 18 ships reducing in readiness towards disposal. These figures include vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Ships

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of delaying the withdrawal from service of HMS (a) Superb and (b) Trafalgar; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Since the restructuring of the Astute contract in 2003 the build of the first of class is proceeding to plan. There is at present, therefore, no reason to reconsider the withdrawal of HMS Superb or HMS Trafalgar.

Sonar 2170

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what criteria will be used to determine which surface ships will be equipped with Sonar 2170;
	(2)  in what circumstances surface ships would be deployed without a Sonar 2170 set; and what assessment he has made of the likely implications;
	(3)  in what circumstances Sonar 2170 radio sets would be transferred from one Royal Navy ship to another;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the length of time needed to remove Sonar 2170 from one surface ship and re-install it on another.

Adam Ingram: Sonar 2170 is a sonar system designed to provide anti-ship torpedo defence. When deciding which ships will be fitted with Sonar 2170, the programme and military tasks of each ship, including an assessment of the underwater threat in the area in which it will operate, will be taken into account.
	Surface ships whose military tasking is not assessed as exposing them to a high risk of torpedo attack will continue to be deployed without Sonar 2170. Those units assessed as facing lower levels of risk will continue to be protected by other measures.
	Sonar 2170 is a system which is designed for transfer from ship to ship. The system will be removed from ships if they are alongside for any length of time, for example during refits.
	Transfer of Sonar 2170 from ship to ship takes around four days. This extremely efficient process allows the equipment to be provided to those units that require it operationally and represents a cost-effective means of providing advanced capability when and where it is required.

Submarine Acquisition Study

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2005, Official Report, column 1995W, on the Submarine Acquisition Study, if he will list the (a) names and (b) designations of the members of the Submarine Acquisition Study.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the Submarine Acquisition Modernisation (SAM) project is, through a coherent, long-term approach to the management of the nuclear submarine programme, to implement a more efficient, more effective and sustainable submarine enterprise through life, leading to a significant reduction in whole life costs and greater submarine availability.
	SAM is a joint MOD/industry study being driven by a Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) team leader with membership drawn from specialists within the DLO, the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the four main industrial partners (Devonport Management Limited (DML), Babcock Naval Services, BAE Systems (Barrow) and Rolls Royce). However, in order to comply with our obligations and protect the identity of individuals, we will not be releasing the names or designations.

Trident

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last undertook a risk assessment of command and control procedures for the Trident nuclear missile system.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 33W.

Trident

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencewhat assessment he has made of possible acquisition costs for a replacement for the Trident nuclear warhead.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1148W, to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr.Salmond) and the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Wishart).

Trident

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will inform Parliament of any expenditure undertaken in relation to research and development for a replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system.

Geoff Hoon: Normal procedures for reporting to Parliament apply to such expenditure.

Trident

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received representations from the Scottish Executive regarding (a) Trident in Scotland, (b) the formulation of the UK position on non-proliferation of weapons and (c) the transportation of nuclear materials relating to the Trident weapon system.

Geoff Hoon: I have received no specific representations from the Scottish Executive on these matters. MOD officials do however have regular contact with the Executive in respect of nuclear matters which fall within the Executive's responsibility.

Trident

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the annual operational costs for a replacement for the Trident nuclear submarine and missile system.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1148W.

Vaccine Damage

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments were made by his Department to children suffering from vaccine damage between 1975 and the introduction of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.

Ivor Caplin: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for administering vaccine damage payments under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. The Ministry of Defence has no record of making common-law compensation payments to children suffering from vaccine damage.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Essex Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department how many hours police officers have spent attending incidents inside and outside nightclubs in each year since 1997 in (a) Essex and (b) Southend.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public;
	(2)  whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of his Department are in place; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information for each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		Core Home Office—Financial years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000–01 33 1 
			 2001–02 21 0 
			 2002–03 30 0 
			 2003–04 34 0 
			 2004–05(4) 36 0 
		
	
	(4)2004–05 figures are for 11 months only up to 28 February 2005.
	
		Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)—Financial years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000–01 125 2 
			 2001–02 175 6 
			 2002–03(5)(5507620006) 299 — 
			 2003–04 637 — 
			 2004–05(7) 803 — 
		
	
	(5)From 1 April 2002—figures include staff, visitors, detainees and contractors.
	(6)From 1April 2002—records include instances of verbal abuse and threatening behaviour towards staff.
	(7)2004–05 figures are for 9 months only up to 31 December 2004.
	
		Prison Service (PS)—Financial years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000–01 6,578 138 
			 2001–02 5,361 74 
			 2002–03(8) 9,994 261 
			 2003–04 8,058 218 
			 2004–05(9) — — 
		
	
	(8)From 1 April 2002—figures include both visitors and contractors.
	(9)2004–05 figures are not yet available.
	
		United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS)—Financial years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000–01 54 1 
			 2001–02 81 4 
			 2002–03 71 4 
			 2003–04 77 1 
			 2004–05(10) 77 1 
		
	
	(10)2004–05 figures are for 11 months only up to 28 February 2005.
	
		Forensic Science Service (FSS)—Financial years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000–01 347 9 
			 2001–02 483 1 
			 2002–03 398 1 
			 2003–04 338 5 
			 2004–05(11) 259 5 
		
	
	(11)2004–05 figures are for 10 monthly only up to 21 January 2005.
	
		Central Police Training and Development Authority (CENTREX) formerly known as National Police Training (NPT)—Calendar years
		
			  Staff Members of the public/visitors 
		
		
			 2000 45 0 
			 2001 59 3 
			 2002 74 0 
			 2003 61 0 
			 2004 64 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures do not include student police officers.
	Accidents at work are reported and monitored in a number of ways across the Department and its agencies. All accidents are reported on an internal accident reporting system. Where an accident is required to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive, the reporting procedure laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 1995 is followed.
	Line managers are provided with guidance on reporting accidents. This includes the requirement to pass this information to others with an interest including health and safety professionals. Accident reports are then scrutinised to see what further action may be required to deal with the situation and prevent recurrence.

Asylum Seekers

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the Government's policy to consider claims for asylum from member states of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the claims of (a) Natalia Chernyshera, (b) Dmitri Maruev and (c) Aleksandr Gorbachev from Russia.

Des Browne: As a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, we consider each claim for asylum on its individual merits to determine whether the claimant can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. An asylum claim made by a national of one of the member states of the Council of Europe would be given individual consideration.
	Nationals of EU member states are subject to separate immigration arrangements. Very few EU nationals claim asylum, and claims that are received are likely to be certified as clearly unfounded with the result that there is no right of appeal against refusal.
	We do not discuss or disclose the immigration status of any individual, other than matters already in the public domain, without the written consent of that person.

Asylum Seekers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2005, Official Report, columns 1830–31W, on asylum seekers, what the average cost to public funds of removing failed asylum applicants was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The cost of the removal of failed asylum seekers is not disaggregated from the overall costs of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and therefore not readily available. Any attempt to calculate the cost of removal of failed asylum seekers would need to take into account a large number of factors and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. However the total public spending for IND is set out in the published Home Office Report.
	Information on the number of failed asylum seekers whom have been removed from the UK in each calendar year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		Number of persons(12)
		
			  Principal asylum applicants removed Dependants removed(13) Total removed(13) 
		
		
			 1997 7,160 — — 
			 1998 6,990 — — 
			 1999(14) 7,665 — — 
			 2000(14) 8,980 — — 
			 2001(14) 9,285 1,495 10,780 
			 2002 10,740 3,170 13,910 
			 2003(15) 13,005 4,890 17,895 
			 2004(15) 12,430 2,290 14,715 
		
	
	(12)Includes enforced removals, persons departing voluntarily following enforcement action being initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	(13)Figures may include a small number of dependants leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes.
	(14)Data on dependants removed not available before April 2001.
	(15)Provisional figures.
	Note:
	Figures rounded to the nearest 5, and may not sum due to rounding.
	Statistics on the number of asylum applicants removed from the UK are available from the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his recent statement to the Bicester Advertiser, to what level asylum seeker applications would need to fall for him to consider the need for accommodation centres for asylum seekers to be unnecessary.

Des Browne: The statement to the Bicester Advertiser was made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Accommodation centres continue to have an important place in the Government's policy for accommodating destitute asylum seekers and are a means of improving contact management with applicants, speeding up decision making and ultimately helping to increase removals. The Government have not set a level of intake at which accommodation centres would cease to be necessary, nor are there plans to do so.

Burma

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Burmese citizens were deported from the United Kingdom in 2004; and how many of these were deported to Burma.

Des Browne: holding answer 24 March 2005
	Management information indicates that no Burmese citizens were removed from the United Kingdom in 2004 as a result of deportation action.
	This data is based on management information and is not National Statistics. The data for 2004 is provisional and subject to change.

Burma

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on the deportation of Burmese asylum seekers.

Des Browne: holding answer 24 March 2005
	Asylum and human rights claims by Burmese nationals are, like those of all claimants, from all countries, considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If the claimant meets the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If an application is refused, and any appeal is unsuccessful, then we expect the individual concerned to leave the UK voluntarily. If they do not, we consider that it is reasonable for us to enforce the return of that individual.

Burma

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports the Government has received regarding the monitoring of Burmese dissidents and asylum seekers in the UK by the Burmese embassy and Burmese Government officials in the UK.

Des Browne: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The Government are aware that in the 1990s, the Burmese authorities took photographs of demonstrators outside the Burmese embassy in London. We are also aware that there are security cameras on the building/embassy walls, which could be used to monitor any demonstration outside the embassy. The UK Government have not received any further specific reports regarding the monitoring of Burmese dissidents and asylum seekers in the UK by the Burmese authorities.

Child Poverty

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of ending child poverty by 2020, and halving it by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 9 March 2005
	The Home Office is supporting the Treasury in meeting the ambitious targets this Government have set on child poverty. Children born into poverty are more likely to be victims of crime and more likely to offend. The child poverty review highlighted the strong associations between youth crime, parental crime and child poverty.
	In order to tackle the poor outcomes associated with child poverty, and to improve the life chances of poor children, the Home Office has invested in a number of prevention programmes for children at risk of involvement in crime or substance misuse.
	To break the cycle of youth offending and deprivation, the Home Office strategic plan includes a commitment to increase youth crime prevention programmes. This includes multi-agency youth inclusion and support panels, targeting high risk children and their families, providing them with support and improving their access to mainstream services. It also includes the youth inclusion programme, which targets the 13 to 16-year-olds most at risk of crime in 72 of the most deprived neighbourhoods. The numbers of both will be increased by 50 per cent. by 2008. We have also increased the coverage of intensive supervision and surveillance programme (ISSPs).
	Children living in poverty are a key risk group for substance misuse. We are targeting young people in the most deprived neighbourhoods at risk of substance misuse through 'Positive Futures', a national sports based social inclusion programme aimed at marginalised 10 to 19-year-olds. Positive Futures aims to
	have a positive influence on participants' substance misuse, physical activity and offending behaviour".
	The Positive Futures projects have proved successful in building relationships, engaging and providing developmental opportunities for young people living in deprived areas.

Correspondence

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive reply to the letter of 22 December 2004 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about the case of Mr. A. K. (references K516836 and B179/5) which his Department acknowledged on 13 January.

Des Browne: holding answer 14 March 2005
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the hon. Member on 22 March 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters dated 24 and 25 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Madeline Crolla and Ms Vanessa Lees, transferred from the Department of Constitutional Affairs.

Charles Clarke: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 10 March and 18 March 2005 respectively.

Criminal Justice (Case Files)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the project to make case file information on a suspect electronically available to all the main criminal justice organisations was initiated; what stage the project has reached; whether it is on schedule; and what the latest estimate of the cost of this project is.

Caroline Flint: The contract for NSPIS case preparation was placed in 1997 and for NSPIS custody in 1998. Thick" client case preparation, whereby the NSPIS case preparation application is held on the force's local IT server system, was initiated and deployed in March 2002 and custody followed in May 2002. Presently there are 11 forces with NSPIS case preparation in operational use and nine forces with custody. Version four of NSPIS custody and case preparation is scheduled to be rolled out in April 2005 with version five to follow in July 2005. NSPIS custody and case preparation will be available to all 43 forces in England and Wales by 31 March 2006. The forecast spend for the NSPIS programme to the end of 2005–06 is £228 million.

Criminal Justice Act

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the provisions of chapter 2 ofthe Criminal Justice Act 2003 will be brought into force.

Paul Goggins: The provisions relating to hearsay evidence contained in chapter 2 of part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will be brought into force on 4 April 2005.

Departmental Policies (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken to promote stronger and safer communities in Newcastle-under-Lyme since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Since 1997 Newcastle-under-Lyme has benefited from a number of crime reduction and community safety initiatives. The Government Office for the West Midlands provides partnership support for all Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) across the region, with identified partnership support officers to assist with making best use of Government funds. In addition, support is given to enable CDRPs to make better linkages with other funding programmes and achieve greater efficiency in programme management and evaluation.
	The Newcastle-under-Lyme Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has received a total of £997,370 since 2001–02 to promote stronger and safer communities. This funding has been provided through a variety of funds, as set out in the following table. While Newcastle-under-Lyme will have received further funding for some elements of the Crime Reduction Programme prior to 2002, the exact details are not collected centrally.
	
		
			 Fund Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02  
			 Communities Against Drugs (CAD) 112,700 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 Safer Communities Fund (SCI) 39,702 
			 Communities Against Drugs (CAD) 112,700 
			 Capital Modernisation Fund (Small Retailers in  Deprived Areas) 34,946 
			 Reducing Burglary Initiative 7,900 
			 CCTV (under the Crime Reduction Programme) 48,690 
			 Wardens 18,125 
			 Total 262,063.00 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 Building Safer Communities Fund (BSC) 158,301 
			 Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) 19,000 
			 CMF (SRDA) 17,597 
			 Business Crime 1,000 
			 Wardens 19,725 
			 BCU Fund(16) 100,000 
			 Total 315,623.00 
			   
			 2004–05  
			 BSC 162,259 
			 ASB 25,000 
			 Wardens 19,725 
			 BCU Fund(16) 100,000 
			 Total 306,984.00 
		
	
	(16)BCU fund goes to North Staffs BCU which covers both Newcastle-U-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands CDRP and is £200,000. For ease of reckoning it is inferred that each CDRP would receive 50 per cent., hence £100,000.
	Information on police strength is set out in Table 1. The Newcastle-under-Lyme parliamentary constituency is part of the North Staffordshire Basic Command Unit (BCU) of the Staffordshire Police. Information on strength at BCU level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002. BCU strength between March 2002 and March 2004 is set out in the Table 2. It is not possible to provide police numbers at constituency level.
	
		Table 1: Staffordshire police strength 1997 to 2004
		
			 As at 31 March Police officer numbers(17) Police (support) staff(17) 
		
		
			 1997 2,211 763 
			 1998 2,292 866 
			 1999 2,238 1,004 
			 2000 2,170 858 
			 2001 2,129 935 
			 2002 2,133 1,030 
			 2003 2,202 1,146 
			 2004 2,266 1,255 
			 2004 (31 August) (18)2,274 Not available 
		
	
	(17)Data provided by Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS).
	(18)August 2004 was collected separately outside of the normal data collection arrangements and has not been subject to the same validation as RDS data.
	
		Table 2: North Staffordshire Basic Command Unit
		
			 As at 31 March Number of police officers 
		
		
			 2002 269 
			 2003 Not available 
			 2004 301 
		
	
	Note:
	The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Mr. John Giffard QPM) and within the North Staffordshire BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Door Supervisor Licensing

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the licensing of door supervisors under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to be completed in (a) the North East and (b) London; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 March 2005
	Security Industry Authority licences have been required for door supervisors working in the North East area since 13 December 2004 whereas those in London have until 11 April 2005 to get licensed.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Department continues to implement well established policies and procedures for the review and disposal of files in accordance with its administrative needs and the Public Records Act.
	E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures. Further e-mail guidance is available on the National Archives website at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords/advice/pdf/managing emails.pdf.
	Departmental policies are kept under review and this is the case for all record management policies. There has been no change to policies over the last 12 months. They continue to treat e-mails as one of the many document types containing business information and so they are used as part of the business record accordingly.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of each category of fixed penalty notices have been (a) issued and (b) paid in each month since their introduction in each police force area.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 23 March 2005
	The information requested in relation to penalty notices for disorder will be published in May/June.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many times (a) Essex and (b) Southend community support officers have issued a fixed penalty notice to parents for truancy since 27 February 2004;
	(2)  how many times (a) Essex and (b) Southend community support officers have stopped cyclists in order to issue a fixed penalty notice for cycling on a footpath since 20 January 2004;
	(3)  how many times (a) Essex and (b) Southend community support officers have issued a fixed penaltynotice for graffiti and fly posting since 31 March 2004;
	(4)  how many times (a) Essex and (b) Southend community support officers have used the power to disperse groups since 20 January 2004;
	(5)  how many times (a) Essex and (b) Southend community support officers have used the power (i) to detain a person for up to 30 minutes pending the arrival of a constable, or to accompany that person to a police station with the person's agreement and (ii) to use reasonable force to detain a person or prevent him or her from leaving the scene in each year since their inception.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally.
	Commencement of paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 to the Police Reform Act 2002, whereby a Chief Constable may designate the power of detention to a Community Support Officer (CSO), took place on 23 December 2004. The Chief Constable of Essex is currently considering whether to designate CSOs on his force with the power to detain.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment what assessment his Department has made of the impact of holocaust memorial day in increasing awareness of and drawing conclusions from the holocaust; and what plans he has for future commemorations.

Fiona Mactaggart: Home Office quantitative polling research included four questions about holocaust memorial day (HMD) in the August 2004 and February 2005 surveys. The February 2005 research findings show a significant increase in awareness with 77 per cent. of those interviewed having heard of HMD (compared with 53 per cent. in August 2004) and 66 per cent. agreeing that events like HMD have an important part to play in combating racism and discrimination (compared with 51 per cent. in August 2004).
	To give a comparison, in February 2004 a BBC survey revealed only 55 per cent. of the UK's population had ever heard of Auschwitz. A new BBC survey conducted in January 2005 has shown that now 94 per cent. of the population in the UK has heard of Auschwitz. This awareness is not just superficial, with half of the UK population feeling that they now know quite a lot about the holocaust, compared to only 30 per cent. last year. In establishing HMD the Government wanted to drive up awareness and understanding of the holocaust. The televised national event in January, preceded by a reception for survivors at St. James's Palace in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and supported by other media programming about the holocaust, has succeeded in this aim. Understanding the continuum of hatred and marginalisation that led from racist abuse to mass genocide will help new generations to stand up to anti-semitism, racism and intolerance.
	The 2005 commemoration provides an excellent basis for the work of the new Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, which will shortly be launched and will assume responsibility for the delivery of HMD from now on.

Illegal Abortions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions of individuals for unlawfully carrying out abortions there have been in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The available information is contained in the table and gives the number of offenders found guilty at all courts for procuring illegal abortion", England and Wales 1997 to 2003.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for procuring illegal abortion"(19) England and Wales 1997 to 2003
		
			  Found guilty 
		
		
			 1997 5 
			 1998 3 
			 1999 — 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 — 
			 2002 — 
			 2003 1 
		
	
	(19)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.

Illegal Experimentation (Human Embryos)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions of people found to have experimented unlawfully on human embryos there have been in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Persons found guilty for offences of experimenting on human embryos over 14 days under section 41 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1110W, on Inland Revenue, when the Inland Revenue first advised his Department that it had a necessary and proportionate requirement to use covert human intelligence sources; and when his Department advised (a) Inland Revenue and (b) other Departments making use of informers to conduct a review of their informers and practices for dealing with them prior to the coming into force of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Hazel Blears: When approached by the Home Office in late 1999, as one of a number of public authorities that used or might use covert human intelligence sources, the Inland Revenue indicated that it did use such sources and wished to continue doing so but within the statutory framework which was to be provided by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. At no time prior to the coming into force of the 2000 Act did the Home Office advise the Inland Revenue, or any other public authority, to review its practices for dealing with informers.

National Missing Persons Helpline

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the funding base of the National Missing Persons Helpline; what representations he has received in respect of funding by his Department for the helpline; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the work of the National Missing Persons Helpline.

Hazel Blears: We have approved funding of up to £300,000 for the National Missing Persons Helpline subject to a fuller understanding of their financial and management situation.

Neighbourhood Policy Document

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of Neighbourhood Policy—Your Police, Your Community, Our Commitment (a) have been printed, (b) have been distributed to date and (c) have been distributed unsolicited; and what the costs to date are of (i) design, (ii) printing and (iii)distribution.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 March 2005
	The publication Neighbourhood Policing—Your Police, Your Community explains the Government's policies on community based policing. It is intended for those who work in policing and for the communities they serve.
	A total of 300,00 copies of the publication were printed in English and 3,500 in Welsh.
	To date 107,730 copies have been distributed to 21,546 addressees.
	The costs of the publication were £850 for design; £42,474 for print and £24,000 for distribution.

Parliamentary Questions

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will provide a substantive reply to questions 202011 and 202012 tabled for answer on 6 December 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 March 2005
	Ireplied to the hon. Member on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 1841W.

Parole

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied when considering whether a prisoner is eligible for parole; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Parole Board is required to take account of the Secretary of State's Directions when determining whether or not an offender held in custody is of sufficiently low risk to be released into the community.
	The panel of the Board will consider the matter either on the papers or at an oral hearing, depending on the type of release and the status of the offender. Depending on the matter before the Board for consideration, the Board will have some or all of the following available to them:
	Reports from the Probation Service;
	Copy of the antecedents;
	Reports from the Prison Service, including a copy of any adjudications and reports of progress in custody, including details of progress on offending behaviour programmes;
	Court documentation; and
	Details of the index offence.
	A copy of the Directions can be found in the House Library.

Police

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methods are used in the national assessment process aimed at preventing racists from joining the police force.

Hazel Blears: It is essential that we do all we can to exclude those with racist or other unacceptable attitudes from joining the police service.
	We have introduced a national assessment and selection process across all forces which tests candidates' against seven competencies identified as requirements for a recruit police officer, including community and customer focus and respect for race and diversity.
	The process aims to prevent people with prejudiced views and behaviour from joining the police service.
	In particular, it comprehensively tests candidates' attitudes to race and diversity. Candidates' attitudes are tested at least seven times across all the exercises in the assessment centre, including at interview, in interactive role play exercises and through written assessment.
	The exercises are all contextually based. Putting people through a range of exercises, using a range of assessment instruments when people are under pressure, makes it difficult for candidates to conceal attitudes and behaviours.
	Those who do not score sufficiently highly in respect for race and diversity are not accepted—regardless of how well they have done in the rest of the selection process.
	Moreover, candidates are failed automatically if they demonstrate inappropriate behaviour through their behaviour or language while at the assessment centre. This includes outside the testing environment, when they are in the corridors, waiting areas, and other public areas.
	We are also encouraging all forces to use members of their minority ethnic communities as assessors in their selection processes.

Police

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) headcount and (b) whole-time equivalent (i) police officers and (ii) civilian staff have been employed by Sussex police in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The latest figures on police strength for September 2004 were published in an online report number 23/05.
	The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		Sussex
		
			  Officers Police staff 
			 30 September FTE Headcount(20) FTE Headcount 
		
		
			 1995 3,020 — 1,076 1,187 
			 1996 3,097 — 1,167 1,296 
			 1997 3,040 — 1,182 1,289 
			 1998 2,924 — 1,216 1,332 
			 1999 2,909 — 1,275 1,409 
			 2000 2,812 — 1,405 1,515 
			 2001 2,837 — 1,506 1,625 
			 2002(21) 2,933 2,978 1,560 1,686 
			 2003(21) 2,973 3,015 1,647 1,765 
			 2004(21) 3,075 3,125 1,840 1,976 
		
	
	(20)Police strength headcount not collected prior to 2002.
	(21)Comparable with previous years' data—excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the police received in funding in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Hazel Blears: Funding for the police service in England and Wales is set out in the following table.
	
		£ million
		
			  1997–98 2003–04 
		
		
			 Home office police grant 3,473 4,288 
			 Revenue support grant(22)(5507620023) 1,516 2,055 
			 National non-domestic rates(22)(5507620023) 1,035 770 
			 Total other grants(24) — 658 
			 Capital grants(25) 170 306 
			 Revenue raised from council tax(22) 947 2,047 
			 Total 7,141 10,124 
		
	
	(22)Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and National Assembly for Wales.
	(23)Revenue Support Grant (RSG) includes SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection grant in 1997–98. RSG and NNDR for the City of London Police are provided in respect of all the Corporation's functions.
	(24)Specific grants for targeted programmes.
	(25)Capital grants include Home Office police capital grant, supplementary credit approvals, Air Support, Premises Improvement Fund, Airwave capital and C3i. The figure for 1997–98 includes an element for major capital schemes allocated under the Priority Planning List (PPL) scheme.

Police

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the North Yorkshire Police Authority Medium Term Financial Plan 2005 to 2011.

Hazel Blears: Each police authority is responsible for its own Medium Term Financial Plan, which will reflect the resource implications of local policing service levels and developments.

Police

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the central Government grant to Nottinghamshire constabulary was in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  General grants(26) Specific grants(27) Capital grant(28) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 110.7 0 4.3 
			 2004–05 127.6 10.7 1.8 
		
	
	(26)Includes Home Office principal police grant, ODPM revenue support grant and redistributed business rates.
	(27)Includes Crime Fighting Fund, Street Crime Initiative, BCU funding, CSO funding and Neighbourhood Policing Fund, DNA funding, Special Priority Payments and Airwave.
	(28)Capital grant in 1999–2000 includes £3.4 million paid to Nottinghamshire Police Authority under the then arrangements to provide additional support for a limited number of major capital schemes each year. In addition, the authority received supplementary credit approvals of £2.6 million in 1999–2000 and £1.3 million in 2004–05 for grant supported borrowing.

Police Funding

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated to police funding in each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: Government grant to support policing in England and Wales since 2001 is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Home Office police grant National non-domestic rates(29)(5507620030) Revenue support grant(29)(5507620030) Total other grants(31) Capital grants(32) Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 (33) 3,955 1,214 1,596 229 221 7,215 
			 2002–03 4,005 1,311 1,504 349 316 7,485 
			 2003–04 4,288 770 2,055 658 306 8,077 
			 2004–05 4,380 744 2,222 708 261 8,315 
			 2005–06 4,574 877 2,244 766 255 8,716 
		
	
	(29)Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and National Assembly for Wales.
	(30)Revenue Support Grant (RSG) includes SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection grant. RSG and NNDR for the City of London police is provided in respect of all its functions.
	(31)Specific grants since 2000–01 for targeted programmes.
	(32)Capital grants include Home Office police capital grant, supplementary credit approvals, Air Support, Premises Improvement Fund, Airwave capital and C3i. The figures included substantial capital for Airwave in 2001–02 (£74.3 million), 2002–03 (£101.2 million) and 2002–03 (£5.9 million). Totals up to 2001–02 include an element for major capital schemes allocated under the Priority Planning List (PPL) scheme.
	(33)The grant figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are not directly comparable, owing to changes from 2002–03 in the method of funding the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

Prisons (Contestability Test)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will visit prison personnel at HM Prisons (a) Swaleside, (b) Elmley and (c) Standford Hill to discuss the contestability test;
	(2)  at which other prisons contestability tests will be conducted following those at HM Prisons Swaleside, Elmley and Standford Hill; and what implications for terms of employment of prison staff the contestability test has.

Paul Goggins: I hope to have the opportunity to visit staff at the three prisons on the Isle of Sheppey in the near future.
	We are announcing one competition relating to prisons at this time. No decision has yet been taken about the future programme. If the public sector Prison Service is successful in its bid for running prisons on the Isle of Sheppey, there will be no changes to terms of employment of prison staff as a result of the competition. Should the public sector Prison Service be unsuccessful in its bid for running prisons on the Isle of Sheppey, then management of the undertaking" will transfer to the private sector bidder.
	All staff will form part of the undertaking" and will therefore transfer to the new employers under the protection of TUPE (Transfer of Undertaking; Protection of Employment Act). TUPE provides that staff will transfer on such existing terms and conditions as those provided by the previous employer and thereafter changes in such terms and conditions will be negotiated directly between the new employer and the employees/recognised trade union as appropriate.
	Pension arrangements for such staff have to be broadly comparable" and within guidelines established by the Cabinet Office entitled Fair Deal on Pensions".
	Additionally, the recent establishment of the Code of Practice on Two-Tier Workforce, agreed by both the TUC and CBI, now makes provision that any new staff joining the transferred undertaking after the date of transfer must be employed on comparable terms and conditions as the existing workforce, hence creating a level playing" field in terms of competition between bidders.

Private Mario Clarke

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2005, Official Report, columns 847–48W, on Private Mario Clarke, when a Home Office large murder inquiry system opened on the death of Private Mario Clarke; how many (a) officer hours were expended and (b) statements were taken (i) up to 31 January 2003 and (ii) in each month since January 2003; how many lines of inquiry were being pursued in relation to the death of Private Mario Clarke on 26 December 2003; and on what date a closing report was recorded.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis reports that up to 31 January 2003 a total of 76 statements were taken. In each month since 31 January 2003, the following number of statements have been taken.
	
		
			 2003 Number 
		
		
			 February 3 
			 March 4 
			 April 7 
			 May 2 
			 July 7 
			 September 1 
		
	
	Up to December 2003 there had been six main lines of inquiry.
	This is still an ongoing inquiry and as such no closing report has been completed.
	The Met have indicated that information requested regarding the expansion of officer hours can be provided only at disproportionate expense to the Metropolitan Police Service.

Sex Abuse (Historical Cases)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what types of investigations other than historical sex abuse police use (a) trawling and (b) dip-sampling.

Hazel Blears: The use of operational techniques in police investigations is an operational matter for the police. The Association of Chief Police Officers have advised that dip-sampling", also referred to as trawling", is rarely used during the course of police investigations. The use of dip-sampling" is invariably limited to investigations involving allegations of historical sex abuse in care or residential homes, where the police need to identify any corroborating evidence relating to the allegations under investigation.

Sikhs

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will revise the Statutory Code of Practice to ensure that all public bodies recognise and monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 2000.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 15 March 2005
	Ihave no current plans to revise the current Statutory Code of Practice on the duty to promote race equality under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Statutory Code encourages public authorities to use the same ethnic classification system as the one used in the2001 census, but it does provide public authorities with a degree of flexibility to add extra ethnic categories to fit their particular circumstances, providing these fit in with the census categories. This approach ensures consistency, allowing comparisons to be made over time and across different areas.

Sikhs

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last reviewed the list of Sikh organisations included in the list of groups proscribed in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The list of proscribed organisations is keptunder regular review as a matter of policy, the Government do not comment on whether particular organisations are being considered for proscription or de-proscription under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Such decisions are only taken after the most careful consideration and on the basis of the best possible security advice.

Special Constables/CSOs (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) special constables and (b) community support officers there were in Leicester in each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: The following information has been provided by the chief constable of Leicestershire (Matt Baggott).
	The table sets out the number of special constables deployed in the central area basic command unit which includes the City of Leicester from 2001.
	
		Leicestershire constabulary—central area BCU Special constable strength
		
			 As at 31 March Special constable numbers 
		
		
			 2001 27 
			 2002 19 
			 2003 17 
			 2004 23 
			 2005 (18 March) 33 
		
	
	Source:
	Leicestershire Constabulary
	CSO were allocated to the central area basic command unit (BCU) for the first time during 2004–05. On 18 March 2004 the BCU had 22 CSOs.

Violent Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on levels of violent crime.

Hazel Blears: According to figures from the British Crime Survey (BCS), which are the most reliable indicator of long-term trends in violence in England and Wales, there were an estimated 2.52 million violent incidents in the 12 months to September 2004. Levels of violent crime are now stable after significant falls since the latter part of the 1990s—36 per cent. down from a peak in 1995 and 26 per cent. down from 1997. The fear of violent crime has also fallen steadily since 1998, with the proportion of adults with a high level of concern about violent crime down from 21 per cent. in 2002–03 to 16 per cent. in 2003–04.
	Half of all violent incidents reported to the BCS in 2003–04 did not result in injury to the victim. However, this does not mean that public concern about violent crime is unjustified or that the ordeal of victims is not traumatic, even if injury has not occurred.
	Recorded violent crime has risen since 1997, reaching 1.1 million incidents in 2003–04, but these data are affected by changes in reporting and recording practices. The Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime were amended in 1998 to include a large number of offences particularly in the less serious violence categories. The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 also resulted in an increase in recorded crime. The effect of the change on the reported level of violent crime was estimated to be an increase of 20 per cent.
	In addition, more violent crimes are being recorded by the police as public tolerance of violence in the family or by acquaintances diminishes. Along with a more proactive response from the police, more crimes that would have previously been unreported are finding their way into the official figures.

Witness Statements

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many witness statements were taken by police forces in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Women Offenders

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the 2004 spending review commitment to pilot new approaches to (a) meet the needs of women offenders and (b) reduce the need for custody; and how much has been allocated from Home Office budgets to each.

Paul Goggins: The Home Secretary announced on 22 March 2005 that £9.15 million will be allocated to implement the 2004 spending review commitment to develop radical new approaches to meet the specific needs of women offenders.
	This is the first time that Government funding has been allocated specifically to tackle women's offending. It will enable the development of a co-ordinated multi-agency response to women's offending and will show how this kind of approach can tackle issues such as drug dependency and mental health problems in the community and avoid the use of custody for women who do not need to be there.

Work Permits

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued in each year since 1990 at (a) tier 1, broken down into categories (a) to (e) and (b) at tier 2.

Des Browne: holding answer 23 March 2005
	The table outlines the number of work permits that were issued in each year since 2000 at (a) tier 1, broken down into categories (a) to (e) and (b) at tier 2. This two tier system was introduced in 2000 so figures are not available for previous years.
	
		Work permits approved
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Tier 1   
			 Intra Company Transfers (a) 26,155 27,438 26,100 27,386 32,768 139,847 
			 Board Level Posts (b) 974 788 607 473 392 3,234 
			 Inward Investment (c) 53 41 26 24 19 163 
			 Shortage Occupations (d) 24,485 47,718 49,916 41,847 40,120 204,086 
			 Sponsored Researcher (e) 0 0 0 0 100 100 
			 Total 51 ,667 75,985 76,649 69,730 73,399 347,430 
			
			 Tier 2   
			 Total 19,103 28,591 41,109 51,487 55,618 195,908 
			
			 Total 70,770 104,576 117,758 121,217 129,017 543,338

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Aggregates (Northamptonshire)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent research he has commissioned into the availability of glacial gravel and aggregate resources in Northamptonshire; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: No recent research has been commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister into the availability of glacial gravels and aggregate resources in Northamptonshire. However, the British Geological Survey, funded through the Sustainable Land-Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme, which is administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair's Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, is currently researching aggregate resource availability in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Region, an area that includes Northamptonshire. One of the objectives of this project is to collect new data on the sand and gravel resources, including those of a glacial origin, which occur in the study area. The project is expected to report in November 2006.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authority antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) obtained in each local authority in each year since their introduction, broken down by recipients aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 to 20, (iii) 20 to 30, (iv) 30 to 50 and (v) over 50years; and how many have been breached in each case.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is given in tables which have been placed in the Library. Data prior to 1 June 2000 is not broken down by type of applicant. Data by the requested age groups are not readily available. However, age group data for juveniles (10–17) and adults (18+) are given. Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are not given to children under the age of 10.
	Breach data are currently available for the period 1 June 2000 up to 31 December 2002. Data for 2003 are due to be released shortly

Asylum Seekers (Grants)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the payments and grants made by predecessor departments to each local authority in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland to reimburse the costs of supporting asylum seekers in each year from 1996–97 until the transfer of responsibility to the Home Office.

Nick Raynsford: Immediately before 1 April 1999 the budget for support of asylum seekers was split between the then Department of Social Security (DSS) and the Department of Health (DoH). DSS were responsible for supporting applicants who made their application at a port of entry until such time as an initial decision was recorded on the claim for asylum. DoH picked up the costs of supporting those claiming asylum after entry and also all appellants (including those who made their original application on arrival). The budget for adult and family asylum seekers transferred to the Home Office on 1 April 1999. The budget for unaccompanied asylum seeking children transferred to the Home Office on 1 April 2000
	For information on the costs the Government in relation to asylum seekers prior to 1999–2000, I refer the hon. Member to a response given by the then Home Secretary on 9 May 2000, Official Report, column 331W. The figures contained in the answer are global, and cover the entire of the UK. They cannot be broken down further into areas.

Gypsies and Travellers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many (a) sites and (b) caravans he assesses would be reasonable to be contained within a Gypsy and Traveller development plan document drawn up by Brentwood borough council;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in (a) each (i) district and (ii) unitary authority in the county of Essex and (b) each county in the eastern region; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how he will assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in each (a) district, (b) county and (c) region; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how he will allocate the required number of Gypsy and Traveller sites between adjoining local authorities in each district, county and region.

Yvette Cooper: It is for Brentwood borough council to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in its area. The Housing Act 2004 will require that local authorities, when assessing local housing need should include the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, and that they should develop a strategy on how to meet the needs identified.
	Assessments of housing need are co-ordinated at the regional level and provide input to the revision of regional spatial strategies (RSS). Guidance in the draft circular Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites" proposes that where there is an assessment of unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the area the regional spatial strategy and development plan documents at local level should allocate land to meet those needs. The RSS should set out how the required number of pitches for Gypsies and Travellers might vary between constituent authorities. Development plan documents at local level should then allocate land to meet those needs.
	In advance of provision in revised regional spatial strategies local authorities have a range of information available to them to inform the development of local policies and plans, including the twice-yearly caravan count, waiting lists for public sites and incidents of unauthorised encampment, and their own assessments.

Gypsies and Travellers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria will be used in assessing a Gypsy and Traveller development plan document.

Yvette Cooper: Section 20 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out that the purpose of the independent examination of a development plan document as being to determine whether:
	(i) it satisfies the statutory requirements for the preparation of the plan as set out in section 19 of the Act and it is in general conformity with the regional spatial strategy or, in London, the spatial development strategy; and
	(ii) it is sound.
	A development plan document will be sound if it meets the procedural; conformity; and coherence, consistency and effectiveness tests set out in paragraph 4.24 of Planning Policy Statement 12—Local Development Frameworks.

Gypsies and Travellers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites there were in (i) each (A) district and (B)unitary authority in Essex and (ii) each county in the eastern region in the last five years for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Detailed information on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites in the east region is available in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans, as is data on the number of caravans on private authorised sites, unauthorised encampments and unauthorised developments of land without planning permission. The bi-annual count is published electronically on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and paper copies are also available in the Libraries of the House.

Gypsies and Travellers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria he will use in deciding whether to exercise his powers to direct local authorities to draw up a Gypsy and Traveller development plan document; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Sections 21 and 27 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 set out the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's intervention and default powers. Planning Policy Statement 12—Local Development Frameworks paragraphs 4.31–4.35 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will use these powers.

Gypsies and Travellers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1296W, on Traveller sites, for what reasons incorrect information was provided; which official was responsible for providing the incorrect information; when it was brought to Ministers' attention that incorrect information had been provided; and what action has been taken to prevent the re-occurrence of such errors.

Yvette Cooper: The original answer of 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 655W was inadequately researched. I was informed that the answer was inaccurate on 6 February 2005 and corrected this at the first opportunity in the pursuant answer of 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1296W. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are regularly reminded of the importance of providing accurate information in parliamentary answers.

Gypsies and Travellers

John Baron: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many unauthorised Traveller sites he estimates there are in each parliamentary constituency.

Yvette Cooper: The data gathered under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's bi-annual Gypsy and Traveller caravan count records the number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans on authorised and unauthorised sites in each local authority area. The count is published electronically on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and paper copies are also made available in the Libraries of the House. Data is not held centrally on the number of unauthorised sites on which Gypsy and Traveller caravans are found, neither is it possible to reorganise our data to reflect constituency boundaries.

Gypsies and Travellers

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on unauthorised Traveller encampments.

Yvette Cooper: The Government introduced new powers to deal with unauthorised camping in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The joint Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Home Office document, Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping", was published in February 2004 and amended on 7 March 2005.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how much funding each local authority in London will receive from the Homelessness Directorate in 2005–06 to support local homelessness strategies;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the funding available to support the Tower Hamlets Homelessness Strategy in 2005–06.

Yvette Cooper: The table shows the amount of homelessness funding allocated to each local authority in London for 2005–06. These grants are helping authorities to prevent homelessness, which can in turn generate wider savings in their General Fund expenditure on homelessness.
	
		£
		
			  Local authority—London Revenue grant 2005–06 allocation up to 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 28,000 
			 Barnet 160,000 
			 Bexley 58,000 
			 Brent 740,000 
			 Bromley 100,000 
			 Camden 1,600,000 
			 City of London 265,000 
			 Croydon council 500,000 
			 Ealing 600,000 
			 Enfield 250,000 
			 Greenwich 63,000 
			 Hackney 550,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,400,000 
			 Haringey 200,000 
			 Harrow 178,000 
			 Havering 27,000 
			 Hillingdon 80,000 
			 Hounslow 165,000 
			 Islington 325,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 875,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 90,000 
			 Lambeth 2,000,000 
			 Lewisham 100,000 
			 Merton 80,000 
			 Newham 200,000 
			 Redbridge 100,000 
			 Richmond 295,000 
			 Southwark 1,050,000 
			 Sutton 100,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 735,000 
			 Waltham Forest 200,000 
			 Wandsworth 250,000 
			 Westminster 6,500,000 
			 Total 19,864,000

Homelessness

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding has been spent on supporting homeless people in (a) Leicester, South, (b) Leicester and (c) England since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Before 2002–03 our homelessness grant funding was allocated to various voluntary organisations to support their work in reducing rough sleeping and tackling homelessness. It is not possible to break down allocations by local authority area prior to 2002–03.
	Since 2002–03, homelessness grant funding has been mainly routed through local authorities to sustain rough sleeping, end the long term use of bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation for homeless families with children and to tackle homelessness more effectively. The following table is a breakdown of the total figure of homelessness grant funding allocated to Leicester city council (which would cover Leicester South) and all local authorities and voluntary sector agencies in England since 1997.
	
		Homelessness grants -- £ million
		
			  Leicester England 
		
		
			 1997–98 — 12.0 
			 1998–99 — 19.0 
			 1999–2000 — 25.0 
			 2000–01 — 39.0 
			 2001–02 — 32.0 
			 2002–03(34) 0.3 90.0 
			 2003–04 0.4 70.0 
			 2004–05 1.5 60.0 
		
	
	(34)First year of funding routed through all local authorities.
	On 14 March, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced our new strategy for tackling homelessness Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives" which builds on our successes in tackling the worst aspects of homelessness—a 70 per cent. reduction in rough sleeping since 1998 and ending the long term use of homeless families with children living in B&B accommodation. It also sets out plans to reduce homelessness further and halve the use of temporary accommodation by 2010. On the same day, we announced that £200 million will be made available over the next three years to support homelessness prevention schemes.
	A copy of Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives" has been made available in the Library of the House and is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: www.odpm.gov.uk
	The Supporting People programme which went live in April 2003 also plays an important part in tackling and preventing homelessness. How local authorities allocate Supporting People grant is a matter for local discretion. However, on the basis of expenditure patterns at April 2003, it is estimated that the sums in the following table were available to authorities to help tackle and prevent homelessness in their areas.
	
		
			 Client group Homeless families with support needs Single homeless with support needs Rough sleepers 
		
		
			 England
			 2003–04 51,750,009 288,847,929 12,720,645 
			 2004–05 51,225,000 286,947,000 12,505,000 
			 Leicestershire County 
			 2003–04 64,576 1,096,914 0 
			 2004–05 66,000 1,118,000 0 
			 Leicester Unitary Council 
			 2003–04 1,621,164 4,841,224 0 
			 2004–05 1,591,000 4,751,000 0 
		
	
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is increasing the supply of new social rented homes by 50 per cent. by 2008, providing 75,000 new social rented homes over the next three years which, with our continued investment in homelessness prevention, will help to turn around the rising trend in homelessness.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units were built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and Challenge Fund in London in each year since 1997–98, broken down by (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) homebuy general market purchase, (d) homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded general low cost ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovement to rented RSL stock, (h) works-only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works-only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) intermediate rented accommodation for key workers, (k) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (l) homebuy new build for key workers, (m) the London Challenge Teacher Market Purchase Homebuy, (n) mixed funded sale for key workers and (o) starter home initiative.

Keith Hill: Substantive answer from Keith Hill to Oona King:
	In my reply to your Parliamentary Question on 17 March about the number of dwellings built or procured through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) and Challenge Fund, in London, by various categories in each year since 1997–98, I undertook to write to you when the information had been collated.
	The attached table shows the dwellings built, procured or improved under each of the headings listed. Miscellaneous works are not recorded as improved dwellings as the work undertaken is small scale, such as an adaptation for a person with a disability or improved insulation. New Build Homebuy and Key Worker Living were both introduced in 2004/05. The Starter Home Initiative (SHI) was a programme in its own right and was not included in the ADP.
	A copy of this letter and the attachment is being placed in the House library.
	
		Completions in London
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 ADP
		
		
			 Mixed funded rent (inc Challenge Fund) 4,747 4,900 4,245 4,007 4,748 3,775 4,030 
			 Temporary social housing 1,042 611 390 429 376 388 385 
			 Homebuy Market Purchase (inc Challenge Fund) 0 0 445 655 466 426 1,373 
			 Homebuy New Build 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Mixed funded sale (inc Challenge Fund) 1,150 1,275 1,053 959 699 912 1,397 
			 Miscellaneous works 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Re-improvements rent 190 251 433 172 138 146 180 
			 Works Only rehabilitation 200 189 26 84 15 23 36 
			 Re-improvements sale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Challenge Fund
			 Intermediate Rent 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 
			 
			 ADP Key Worker Living
			 Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Homebuy New Build for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London Challenge Teacher Market Purchase 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Mixed funded sale for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Starter Home Initiative 0 0 0 0 13 1,373 2,639

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and Challenge Fund funding has been spent on (a) mixed funded social rented housing, (b) temporary social rented housing, (c) homebuy general market purchase, (d) homebuy general new build, (e) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (f) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (g) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (h) works-only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (i) works-only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (j) intermediate rented accommodation for key workers, (k) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (l) homebuy new build for key workers, (m) the London Challenge Teacher Market Purchase Homebuy, (n) mixed funded sale for key workers and (o) starter home initiative in London in each year since 1997–98.

Keith Hill: Substantive answer from Keith Hill to Oona King:
	In my reply to your Parliamentary Question on 17 March about the expenditure through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) and Challenge Fund in London by various categories in each year since 1997–98, I undertook to write to you when the information had been collated.
	The attached table shows the expenditure attributed to each of the headings listed. New Build Homebuy and Key Worker Living were both introduced in 2004/05. The Starter Home Initiative (SHI) was a programme in its own right and was not included in the ADP.
	A copy of this letter and the attachment is being placed in the House library.
	
		Expenditure in London -- £ million
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 ADP
			 Mixed funded rent (inc Challenge Fund) 152.95 170.71 202.64 237.43 279.92 342.04 470.25 
			 Temporary social housing 6.55 4.63 5.48 4.93 7.56 7.90 17.72 
			 Homebuy Market Purchase (inc Challenge Fund) 0.00 0.00 11.64 18.95 15.16 16.28 60.22 
			 Homebuy New Build 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Mixed funded sale (inc Challenge Fund) 29.02 24.17 25.58 38.59 28.31 46.59 127.72 
			 Miscellaneous works 0.00 0.00 5.89 5.32 5.04 0.00 5.42 
			 Re-improvements rent 0.00 0.00 6.53 5.26 3.26 3.46 8.08 
			 Works Only rehabilitation 0.00 0.00 0.90 1.27 0.58 1.26 1.07 
			 Re-improvements sale 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 
			 Challenge Fund
			 Intermediate Rent 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 32.22 
			 
			 ADP KWL
			 Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Homebuy New Build for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London Challenge Teacher Market Purchase 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Mixed funded sale for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Starter Home Initiative 0 0 0 0 0.35 40.99 98.19

Ideal Home Exhibition

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) capital and (b) running costs were of his stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition.

Yvette Cooper: The capital cost of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's corporate stand was £30,000. This stand represents the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister around the country at a wide variety of public and private events, and is expected to last for five years. The cost of attending the IHS was £52,730.
	The Ideal Home Show will receive over 450,000 visitors over the four weeks from across the country. The stand is providing information on Building Regulations, Home Information Packs, Key Worker homes and Planning. Part of the stand is also dedicated to the Fire Kills campaign—an essential part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's drive to help reduce fire deaths.

Local Authority Finance (Lincolnshire)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much financial assistance his Department has provided to (a) North Lincolnshire council and (b) North East Lincolnshire council in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following the machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The tables set out the amounts of formula grant and other grants and payments made to (a) North Lincolnshire council and(b) North East Lincolnshire council by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since 2002–03. For earlier years, the tables show the amounts paid by the predecessor Departments from programmes which are now administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	
		(a) Financial assistance to North Lincolnshire council -- £ million
		
			  Formula grant(35) Other grants and payments(36) 
		
		
			 1997–98 86.00 2.637 
			 1998–99 90.638 3.287 
			 1999–2000 95.031 3.441 
			 2000–01 98.677 3.645 
			 2001–02 101.332 6.701 
			 2002–03 104.586 8.229 
			 2002–03 116.245 10.409 
			 2004–05 117.896 11.235 
		
	
	(35)These figures may not be comparable year-on-year due to changes in the funding and function of local authorities.
	(36)For 2004–05 this is a forecast figure.
	
		(b) Financial assistance to North East Lincolnshire council -- £ million
		
			  Formula grant(37) Other grants and payments(38) 
		
		
			 1997–98 98.355 2.848 
			 1998–99 104.436 3.104 
			 1999–2000 109.088 3.472 
			 2000–01 114.535 4.42 
			 2001–02 117.847 6.492 
			 2002–03 120.577 7.429 
			 2003–04 133.289 17.443 
			 2004–05 133.996 23.982 
		
	
	(37)These figures may not be comparable year-on-year due to changes in the funding and function of local authorities.
	(38)For 2004–05 this is a forecast figure.
	Additionally, we have issued exceptional capitalisation directions to North East Lincolnshire for total maximum amounts of £4.5 million in 2003–04 and £10.5 million in 2004–05, and under our local government intervention programme we have approved a grant determination for £3.8 million, which relates to work for 2004–05 and it is as yet unclaimed.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Huw Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress of negotiations with trade union representatives about the future of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 March, following a constructive dialogue with local authority employers and trade unions that it has been decided to establish a tri-partite committee of key stakeholders to consider and negotiate the long term future of the Local Government Pension Scheme. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has made clear the intention to revoke the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2004 at the earliest parliamentary opportunity, subject to statutory consultation, as required by the Superannuation Act 1972. A meeting with the employers and trade unions will be taking place as soon as possible to discuss the next steps with nothing ruled in and nothing ruled out.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what status local strategic partnerships have within the democratic decision-making process of local government; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are non-statutory, non-executive bodies which bring together public, private, voluntary and community interests to work together more effectively. They are not designed to replace local government, but are a vehicle through which councils can exercise their community leadership role by facilitating effective partnership—working to produce a strategic direction for a locality.
	Elected officials who sit on LSPs also have a responsibility to scrutinise them, therefore maintaining a clear link to the democratic decision making process.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to whom local strategic partnerships are accountable.

Yvette Cooper: Within a local strategic partnership (LSP), individual partners will remain responsible and accountable for decisions on their own services and the use of their own resources. Accountability to the partnership, therefore, cannot override these individual commitments. The LSP partner organisations already have established lines of accountability, to their own customers and the wider community. LSP accountability arrangements need to build on these frameworks.
	While local authorities are legally required to prepare community strategies, in the community strategy guidance they are encouraged to see LSPs as the vehicle to determine and deliver these.
	For the 88 areas receiving neighbourhood renewal fund (NRF) resources, although the local authority remains the accountable body, ultimately it is the responsibility of the LSP to determine their allocation with the aim of meeting the partners' strategic priorities, improving public services in the most deprived neighbourhoods, and contributing to the achievement of public sector agreement (PSA) targets to narrow the gap between deprived areas and the rest.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list local strategic partnerships.

Yvette Cooper: A local strategic partnership (LSP) is a non-statutory, non executive organisation which brings together public, private, voluntary and community interests to work together more effectively to improve the quality of life in their area. There is no one model for the structure of a LSP nor is an area obliged to set one up; what works in one area may not work in another. As such this information is not held centrally by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister but the Government Offices (GOs) would have this information.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who is responsible for (a) appointments to and (b) removal of members of local strategic partnerships.

Yvette Cooper: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are a collaborative partnership where each member is an equal partner. Partners are not appointed by any one person or any one organisation. They join on a voluntary basis to help organise the delivery of local services more effectively. Each partner has a different contribution to make to secure the economic, social and environmental well being of an area for those who live and work there.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he monitors the activities of local strategic partnerships.

Yvette Cooper: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are voluntary bodies and have no statutory responsibilities. They rely on the goodwill of their partners to operate. Therefore they are not required to develop any formal performance management mechanisms.
	However, LSPs in receipt of neighbourhood renewal funds resources have all now developed performance management frameworks. This is primarily a self-assessment process. To ensure the process is robust, since 2004 Government offices have undertaken an annual review, with the outcomes of performance management forming the basis of these reviews. Government offices provide the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with a report on each of the 88 LSPs in September each year.

New Deal for Communities (North London)

Mark Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action has been taken to respond to the petition submitted to his Department in November 2004 by local residents regarding the New Deal for Communities project in the Seven Sisters area of North London; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The petition, on behalf of two expelled Partnership Board Members, has been carefully considered and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister remains satisfied that the expulsions were handled fairly.

Official Residences

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff areemployed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2003–04.

Yvette Cooper: With regard to which residences the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for and who occupies them, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1037W.
	On general running and refurbishment/maintenance costs of residences, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) on 18 November 2004, Official Report, column 1733W.
	The costs of other expenditure items in the official residence in Admiralty House of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister are as follows:
	(a) There have been no flowers or plants provided from public funds.
	(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's entertainment budget does not detail expenditure by venue and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(c) There has been no expenditure on food from public funds.
	(d) The cost of telephone calls was £857.20 in 2003–04.
	(e) The cost of electricity and gas was £1,361.00 in 2003–04.
	i. There are no domestic staff providing services in the official residence occupied by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.
	ii. Maintenance within the residence is provided under a Cabinet Office contract and the cost of this is included within the service charge. There are no maintenance staff employed exclusively in my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's official residence.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also has the use of Dorneywood, which is a Trust property available for use by Ministers.

Parking

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on (a) provision of parking spaces for civil servants and (b) parking tickets and penalties incurred by civil servants in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Car parking spaces are provided for staff (including those with disabilities) and visitors. For the buildings of both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessors, the car parking spaces are included in the rent of each building and this element cannot be separated from the overall cost.
	Civil servants in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are personally responsible for meeting the cost of any parking tickets and penalties they may incur. Since May 2002 one fine costing £50 has been paid by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This was as a result of a Government Car and Despatch Agency car being used by a member of staff incurring a penalty charge.
	The value of any fines incurred prior to the establishment of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This answer does not include information pertaining to Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Quality Mark

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the proposals developed in conjunction with the construction industry and consumer bodies to revive the Quality Mark initiative; whether he anticipates incorporating his Department's existing Competent Persons Schemes under the Building Regulations into the proposed successor initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have taken part in discussions with the Department for Trade and Industry, the construction industry and consumer bodies to develop a possible successor to the Quality Mark Initiative. Existing and future competent person schemes and their registered installers will be free to take part in any successor if they wish to do so.

Social Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2005, Official Report, column 902W, on social housing (right to buy), what estimate he has made of the amount of capital receipts from right to buy sales in debt-free authorities that will be centrally pooled in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2006–07 and (d) 2007–08.

Keith Hill: Current estimates are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2004–05 51 
			 2005–06 102 
			 2006–07 150 
			 2007–08 197 
		
	
	The increase year-on-year is a feature of the transitional arrangements, which allow debt-free local authorities to retain 75 per cent. of the value of poolable receipts in 2004–05, 50 per cent. in 2005–06 and 25 per cent. in 2006–07. The transitional arrangements end in 2007–08.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Office sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not use eBay to dispose of any surplus stock. Any surplus stock that cannot be used within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or any other Government Department is disposed of in accordance with departmental procedures which are contained in the Procurement Manual.

Telecommunications Masts

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with mobile phone operators on the siting of phone masts.

Keith Hill: The last meeting between a Minister of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Mobile Operators Association was held with me on 24 March 2004. Monday 4 April 2005

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the concentration of (a) nitrogen dioxide, (b) sulphur dioxide and (c) benzene in Leicester has been in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The table shows annual mean concentrations (in micrograms per metre cubed) for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide from 1997 to 2004 measured by the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) air monitoring site in Leicester.
	There are no measurements of benzene in Leicester. The table includes measurements from Birmingham, East (1997 to 2000) and Birmingham Roadside (2002–04). These are the nearest benzene monitors to Leicester.
	
		Annual mean concentrations for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, measured by the Automatic Urban and Rural Network air monitoring site in Leicester, and for benzene measured at Birmingham, East (1997 to 2000) and Birmingham Roadside (2002–04) -- Micrograms per metre cubed
		
			  Nitrogen dioxide Sulphur dioxide Benzene 
		
		
			 1997 41 10 3.3 
			 1998 40 10 2.8 
			 1999 41 9 2.4 
			 2000 34 7 1.4 
			 2001 35 9 — 
			 2002 35 6 3.4 
			 2003 37 6 3.8 
			 2004 37 4 3.2 
		
	
	All historic and current air quality measurements from the AURN are published at www.airquality.co.uk

Common Agricultural Policy

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid under the Common Agricultural Policy to farmers in each (a) constituency, (b) county and (c) region of England in the last period for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Tables setting out payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy will be made available in the Library of the House.
	The data relates to farm based schemes for the 2004 European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) accounting year which ran from 16 October 2003 to 15 October 2004.
	The schemes included are:
	Arable Area Payment
	Beef Special Premium
	Suckler Cow Premium
	Extensification Premium
	Slaughter Premium
	Sheep Annual Premium
	England Rural Development Programme
	Structural Funds 1
	Over-thirty-months Slaughter
	Payments to customers are reported on the basis of requested business address which may differ from the location of the farming activity.
	1 Structural funds are moneys made available by EAGGF to contribute to the economic development of disadvantaged regions within Europe.

Crufts

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of her Department's stand at Crufts; how many man days were used to (a) erect and (b) man it; and what its purpose was.

Alun Michael: The costs of Defra's attendance at Crufts 2005 was as follows:
	Cost of stand build including graphics production and literature storage—£9,031 plus VAT
	Defra man days to install—1
	Defra man days to occupy stand—19 (Thursday 4, Friday 5, Saturday 5, Sunday 5)
	Defra attends many specialist exhibitions and shows as part of it's on-going communication with stakeholders. Crufts provides an excellent opportunity to target pet owners with messages about the Pets Travel Scheme, rabies, Countryside Rights of Way, the DACTARI scheme about exotic diseases in cats and dogs, the draft Animal Welfare Bill, and EU and UK legislation relating to the responsible ownership of dogs.

Environment Agency Inspectors

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inspectors have been employed by the Environment Agency in the exercise of functions previously conducted within Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: At the present time the Environment Agency has 335 employees working on tasks that would formerly have fallen under the umbrella of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution.
	This is the readily available information. I will write to the hon. Member within the next three weeks when I have received further information from the Environment Agency.

Farm Support

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money was spent on support for farming in England in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by (a) constituency, (b) county and (c) region.

Alun Michael: Tables setting out the amount of public money which has been spent on support for farming in England will be made available in the Library of the House.
	In this context public funding is taken to mean the Exchequer funded element of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy which are not reimbursable by the European Commission.
	The data relates to farm-based schemes for the 2004 European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) accounting year which ran from 16 October 2003 to 15 October 2004.
	The main schemes included are:
	England Rural Development Programme
	Structural Funds 1
	Over-thirty-months Slaughter
	All of which are jointly funded, in differing proportions, between Exchequer and EAGGF elements.
	Payments to customers are reported on the basis of requested business address which may differ from the location of the farming activity.
	1 Structural funds are moneys made available by EAGGF to contribute to the economic development of disadvantaged regions within Europe.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 2000–01.

Alun Michael: Defra has not used the eBay auction website to dispose of surplus stock.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Disabled Teachers

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools have registered disabilities in (i) Leicester, South and (ii) England.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Education Spending (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on education in Crosby in each of the last seven years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is collected at local education authority level. Crosby is part of Sefton LEA and the following table contains the information requested:
	
		Total funding (real terms) from 1997–98 to 2004
		
			  Total funding (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 128.5 
			 1998–99 133.4 
			 1999–2000 139.2 
			 2000–01 152.9 
			 2001–02 161.2 
			 2002–03 165.6 
			 2003–04 173.7 
			 2004–05 177.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004.
	2.Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.
	3.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4.Where responsibility for funding a school transferred from an LEA, related funding no longer appears in the series.
	5.Rounding: figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.
	6.Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Ethnic Minority Teachers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to (a) recruit more ethnic minority teachers and (b) encourage more people from ethnic minorities to become school governors.

Stephen Twigg: The Teacher Training Agency's commitment to increase the recruitment of trainees from minority ethnic backgrounds to 9 per cent. of the allocated training places has been a priority since 2000.
	In 2004, the provisional figures for entry to initial teacher training show that 2,934 trainees (9.1 per cent.) were from a minority ethnic background. This is an increase of 759 (35 per cent.) additional trainees recruited since 2002. Despite meeting the 9 per cent. target, it remains a priority for the agency to further increase recruitment of trainee teachers from a minority ethnic background.
	There are approximately 350,000 school governor places at maintained schools in England. 12 per cent. of serving governors are from a minority ethnic background.
	Responsibility for the recruitment and appointment of school governors is shared between local authorities, schools themselves and any relevant body—such as a faith organisation—for schools with foundations. These local organisations are best placed to identify the most successful ways to recruit good quality, suitable candidates. The Department supports the recruitment activities of schools and LEAs by providing the generic Help Schools Help Children recruitment leaflets, available in 11 minority languages, and a recruitment toolkit. Additionally, since November 1999, the Department has funded the School Governors' One Stop Shop (SGOSS) to recruit school governor volunteers with transferable skills from the business world. Since their establishment SGOSS have identified 6,437 candidates. Of these candidates 3,047 have already been appointed to governing bodies, with 18 per cent. coming from a minority ethnic background.

Food Provision

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public subsidies were available to (a) employers and (b) training providers delivering national vocational qualification food preparation and cooking at levels one to four in each of the past three years.

Stephen Twigg: The Learning and Skills Council funds these qualifications as part of apprenticeship programmes or through colleges and other providers working with employers.
	The Learning and Skills Council funding rates are in the attached annex.
	Annex A
	Funding through apprenticeships
	
		Food processing and cooking: NVQ at level 2
		
			  16–18 rate 19+ rate 
		
		
			 2002/03 3,106 1,941 
			 2003/04 3,449 2,242 
			 2004/05 3,535 2,398 
		
	
	
		Food preparation and cooking: NVQ level 3
		
			  16–18 rate 19+ rate 
		
		
			 2002/03 5,797 3,106 
			 2003/04 6,437 3,449 
			 2004/05 6,598 3,889 
		
	
	Funding through FE colleges
	
		NVQ levels 1 and 2 in food processing and cooking(normally delivered over one year)
		
			  Mode A Mode B 
		
		
			 2002/03 1,482 991 
			 2003/04 1,411 943 
			 2004/05 1,282 857 
		
	
	
		NVQ levels 3 and 4 in food preparation and cooking(normally delivered over two years)
		
			  Mode A Mode B 
		
		
			 2002/03 2,964 1,982 
			 2003/04 2,822 1,886 
			 2004/05 2,564 1,714 
		
	
	Mode A: Delivery by provider and employer jointly, mainly at the workplace and partly at provider
	Mode B: Delivery by provider and employer jointly, entirely at the workplace

Food Provision

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) public and (b) trade consultation was carried out during the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority funded consultation on the People 1st National Vocational Qualification for food preparation and cooking; which organisations made representations (i) supporting and (ii) opposing the inclusion of a mandatory nutrition unit at levels 1 to 4; and for what reasons.

Stephen Twigg: People 1st held over 30 consultation meetings throughout the UK for employers, industry and training providers, FE colleges, external verifiers and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). In addition, 571 people downloaded the Standards from the People 1st website.
	The DfES and the FSA both supported the inclusion of a mandatory nutrition unit. The majority of industry personnel consulted were opposed to the inclusion of a mandatory nutrition unit because a knowledge-based unit would not be easily assessable in the workplace and because it would not reflect current work practice.

Learning and Skills Council

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council spent on consultants in 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. David Drew, dated 31 March 2005
	I write further to your recent question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding how much the LSC spent on consultants in 2004.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) financial year 2004–05 covers the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005. At this juncture my officers are in the process of implementing rigorous year end procedures to ensure that all activity occurring during the 2004–05 financial year is correctly accounted for, this will then be impartially audited by the National Audit Office prior to publication of the LSC's Annual Report and Accounts. As you will appreciate these accounts are predicated on assurance work undertaken in partnership with a number of providers, such as FE Colleges and WBL providers. As a result, the LSC's accounts will not be available until some time later in the year.
	Consequently, the most recent financial year for which the information you have requested is available is 2003–04.
	Table 1 below shows the total expenditure coded as consultancy in the LSC's accounts for the 2003–04 financial year.
	
		£000
		
			 Organisation National Regional(39) Local Total 
		
		
			 Higher Education Funding Council 8,814 0 0 8,814 
			 KPMG LLP 3,513 0 129 3,642 
			 Learning and Skills Development Agency 3,328 0 5 3,333 
			 NIACE 1,890 0 10 1,900 
			 RSM Robson Rhodes 1,825 0 2 1,827 
			 Prospects Services Ltd. 0 0 1,638 1,638 
			 Baker Tilly 1,588 0 0 1,588 
			 Pricewaterhouse Coopers 1,376 0 0 1,376 
			 Oakleigh Consulting 1,038 0 0 1,038 
			 Raithbone Training Company 924 0 2 926 
			 Other consultancy firms 27,441 0 16,510 43,951 
			 Total 51,737 0 18,296 70,033 
		
	
	(39)A regional structure to further strengthen the LSC's focus upon delivering frontline provision was introduced during the 2004–05 financial year. Unfortunately, 2003–04 expenditure cannot be analysed on a Regional basis.
	I hope that you find this information helpful.

Nutrition Training

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans she has to include nutrition as a mandatory unit within the new Food Preparation and Cooking NVQ;
	(2)  what her policy is on the inclusion of a mandatory nutrition unit in the national vocational qualification for food preparation and cooking.

Stephen Twigg: Qualifications relating to food preparation and cooking are developed in response to employers needs, and at this point most employers do not want nutrition as a mandatory element. However, our recent work on improving school meals has shown the advantages of school catering staff having knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating. DfES, the Food Standards Agency and People 1st are developing the content of a school catering qualification that will provide basic knowledge of this subject, and we envisage the recently announced School Food Trust will consider this and other issues related to training school kitchen staff in due course.

Nutrition Training

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further consultation occurred after the expiry of the formal consultation deadline of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority funded consultation on the People 1st National Vocational Qualification, regarding whether nutrition should be a (a) mandatory and (b) optional unit at levels 1 to4.

Stephen Twigg: There was further consultation on the standards and the levels of some units. Nutrition was covered in this consultation and, again, the results indicated that there was not a strong enough industry view that nutrition should be included as a mandatory unit in the new food preparation and cooking N/SVQs.

Nutrition Training

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings have taken place between Ministers in her Department and (a) People 1st and (b) the Food Standards Agency in relation to the development of nutrition elements of the national vocational qualification for food preparation and cooking.

Stephen Twigg: No such meetings have taken place.

Pupil Funding (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent on each school pupil in Crosby on average in each of the last seven years.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is collected at local education authority level. Crosby is part of Sefton LEA and the following table contains the information asked for:
	
		Funding (real terms) per pupil aged 3–19
		
			  Funding per pupil (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,740 
			 1998–99 2,810 
			 1999–2000 2,930 
			 2000–01 3,200 
			 2001–02 3,360 
			 2002–03 3,480 
			 2003–04 3,640 
			 2004–05 3,770 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Price Base: real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 September 2004.
	2.Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC.
	3.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3–19 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4.The pupil numbers used to convert m figures to per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	5.Rounding: figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	6.Status: 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have yet to be finalised/audited.

School Buildings (North-West)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools have been refurbished since 1997 in (a) Liverpool, Riverside, (b) Liverpool, (c) Merseyside and (d) the North- West;
	(2)  how many new schools have been built since 1997 in (a) Liverpool, Riverside, (b) Liverpool local education authority, (c) Merseyside and (d) the North-West.

Stephen Twigg: We do not hold this level of detailed information centrally. The information will be held locally. Much of the Department's support for capital investment is allocated to local authorities and schools so that investment decisions can be made locally, based on asset management planning processes. We have, however, made available significant capital support. Last November we announced capital allocations covering the next three years. This means that schools in Liverpool, Merseyside and the North-West will benefit from the following investment:
	
		2005–06 to 2007–08
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 North-West 652.7 
			 Merseyside 146.3 
			 of which:  
			 Liverpool 37.7 
		
	
	In addition, Knowsley, Lancashire and Manchester are in wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future, and are due to receive investment under that programme from 2005–06. Liverpool will be in wave 2 (2006–07), and Salford and Tameside will be in wave 3 (2007–08). Building Schools for the Future aims to renew, refurbish and transform the secondary schools' estate over 15 waves.

School Catering

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the reasons were for introducing a new vocational qualification for school catering managers and staff from April.

Stephen Twigg: In 2004, the Department for Education and Skills in partnership with the Food Standards Agency funded research that looked at school lunch standards in 79 secondary schools in England. It found that pupils made healthier food choices in those schools where catering staff had received training. It is for this reason that we are developing a new qualification for school catering staff.

School Funding (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Wimbledon in each of the last seven years.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold information on funding for ICT in schools at constituency level. However, Wimbledon is in Merton LEA and allocations for this authority since 1998 are detailed in Funding for ICT in Schools in England" which is available in the House Library.

School Funding (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding each school inWimbledon has received under the new deal for schools.

Stephen Twigg: Merton local education authority (LEA) was allocated the following amounts under the four phases of new deal for schools (NDS):
	
		£000
		
			 Period NDS funding 
		
		
			 1997/98 360 
			 1998/99 1,287 
			 1999/2000 1,217 
			 2000/01 1,922 
		
	
	Of the funding included in the table, Wimbledon schools received £106,998. Information on other projects is not held centrally.

School Funding (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on repairing schools in Wimbledon in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: The following table indicates the level of capital funding allocated to Merton local education authority since 1997:
	
		£000
		
			 Period Total capital allocation 
		
		
			 1996/97 383 
			 1997/98 583 
			 1998/99 2,022 
			 1999/2000 4,214 
			 2000/01 5,032 
			 2001/02 12,574 
			 2002/03 (40)71,923 
			 2003/04 7,293 
			 2004/05 5,836 
		
	
	(40)Includes £56,600,000 of PFI credits.
	Decisions regarding how the allocation is spent are taken locally by the local education authority. Information is not held centrally on how much is spent on repairing each school in Wimbledon.

School Funding (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Wimbledon (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: Information on the number of teaching assistants in service is collected in January of each year. The following table shows the number of teaching assistants in maintained schools in Wimbledon from 1997 to 2004, the latest information available.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants
		
			  Teaching assistants 
		
		
			 1997 70 
			 1998 80 
			 1999 80 
			 2000 90 
			 2001 110 
			 2002 100 
			 2003 100 
			 2004 150 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures include non-maintained special.
	2.Teaching assistant figures include nursery assistants, special needs and support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff.
	3.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.

Synthetic Phonics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will undertake a review of the National Literacy Strategy following the publication of the Clackmannanshire research into synthetic phonics teaching of reading.

Derek Twigg: The National Literacy Strategy has constantly evolved since its introduction in 1998 in response to the latest research. This will continue to be the case.
	The Clackmannanshire study is a valuable piece of research which highlights the importance of having a well structured and direct programme of synthetic phonics teaching in schools. It lends further weight to the approach to teaching reading and spelling advocated by the National Literacy Strategy which has at its heart early and direct instruction in synthetic phonics, very similar to the teaching methods trialled in Clackmannanshire.
	While the pupils who took part in the Clackmannanshire study made significantly faster gains than pupils in the control group, their attainment in reading comprehension was broadly the same as that achieved by an average 11-year-old in an English school who would be taught using the National Literacy Strategy.

Teachers (Key Stage 3)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of Key Stage 3 teachers who are (a) not fully qualified in the subject they are teaching and (b) not fully qualified to teach the age group they are teaching.

Stephen Twigg: Details of the qualifications held by secondary school teachers in the subject they teach are available but cannot be split by Key Stage level. The information was published in table 24 of the Statistics of Education, School Workforce in England Volume, 2004 edition, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Alternatively it may be accessed at the following URL: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000554/index.shtml
	No estimate has been made of the number of Key Stage 3 teachers who are not fully trained to teach at that level.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Referendums

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission which EU institutions may be permitted participants in a referendum, under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: Section 105(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) sets out the definition of 'permitted participant' in relation to a particular referendum to which Part VII of that Act applies. Ultimately, it would be for the courts to decide whether any particular body falls within the scope of this definition in relation to any particular referendum.
	As I informed the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) on 7 March 2005, Official Report, columns1666–67W, The Electoral Commission has already indicated that it does not regard the European Commission as falling into any of the categories of organisation that can be a permitted participant in a referendum on the EU Constitution. Beyond this, the Commission has not expressed any views on whether EU institutions may be permitted participants in any particular referendum to which Part VII of PPERA applies.

PRIME MINISTER

Audiences with the Queen

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask Her Majesty the Queen to allow cameras to film (a) the audience he has with Her Majesty when he requests the dissolution of Parliament and (b) the audience Her Majesty has with the person invited to form the next Government.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.

Iraq War (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what classification the Attorney-General's legal advice on the use of force in Iraq has under the Official Secrets Act 1989.

Tony Blair: The Official Secrets Act does not prescribe any classification system for Government documents.

Iraq War (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government (a) showed the Attorney-General's legal advice on the use of force in Iraq to and (b) discussed the legal advice with the US Administration.

Tony Blair: It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign Governments.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether Lord Birt has requested that his position be turned into a paid one.

Tony Blair: There are no plans to change Lord Birt's status as an unpaid adviser.

Sudan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan regarding the situation in Darfur.

Tony Blair: We are in constant contact with the Government of Sudan about the crisis in Darfur, both at ministerial and official level. I visited Sudan in October last year, and since then the embassy in Khartoum has monitored commitments given to me during that visit. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) recently met the Sudanese Foreign Minister in London on 10 February.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council Grants (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding theatres in Leicester have received from the Arts Council since 1997.

Estelle Morris: Total grant in aid funding from Arts Council England for theatres in Leicester since 1999 is shown in the table:
	
		£
		
			  Total grant in aid funding 
		
		
			 1999–2000 942,150 
			 2000–01 971,965 
			 2001–02 993,420 
			 2002–03 1,279,151 
			 2003–04 1,379,360 
			 2004–05 1,467,332 
		
	
	Information regarding funding between 1997 and 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Institute of Sport Reviews

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the external reviews that have been undertaken into (a) the United Kingdom Institute of Sport and (b) the English Institute of Sport;and if she will place a copy of each report in the Library.

Richard Caborn: An external review of the English Institute of Sport was conducted by KPMG in June 2003. A copy of the report will shortly be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	There have been no external reviews of the United Kingdom Institute of Sport.

Licensing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on how the new licensing regulations will apply to eating establishments.

Richard Caborn: The Licensing Act 2003 affects eating establishments to the extent that they carry out any licensable activities—that is, the sale by retail of alcohol; the provision of regulated entertainment; and the supply of late night refreshment (i.e. the provision of hot food or drink to members of the public between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am for consumption on or off the premises). For example, the proprietor of a restaurant with a bar which currently has a justices' licence permitting the sale of alcohol under Part IV of the Licensing Act 1964 will need to convert to a premises licence. He can apply to extend his hours and/or provide regulated entertainment under the same licence. Further details of how and in what circumstances applications could and should be made can be found on our website (www.culture.gov.uk<http://www.culture.gov.uk>) under alcohol and entertainment.

Olympic Bid

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what undertakings the Government have given to the London Olympic Bid team on meeting shortfalls in the budget for a London Olympics should the bid be successful.

Tessa Jowell: The costs of staging and operating a London Olympic Games would be met and managed by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG). In line with the requirements made by the International Olympic Committee of candidate cities, the UK Government have provided a guarantee that underwrites these costs.

Olympic Bid

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which locations outside London the International Olympic Committee visited during its recent visit.

Tessa Jowell: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission decided only to visit those venue locations outside the Greater London area which have not previously held World Class Events. The locations visited were: Broxbourne, Hertfordshire (canoe slalom); Weald, Essex (mountain biking); and Eton Dorney, Berkshire (rowing and flat water canoeing).

Playing Fields (Leicester, South)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many playing fields that were in use in 1997 in Leicester, South constituency are no longer used for that purpose.

Richard Caborn: This information is not held centrally. Through Active Places we are creating a new database which, from June 2005, will be able to identify the current stock of playing pitch provision and how that changes over time.
	The Government have dramatically reduced the overall number of sales of both school and community playing fields, by introducing legislative changes and improving checks to the planning system.
	We fully support the recent upgrade of the rules governing the sale of school playing fields. As a result of the changes, the sale of a school playing field must now be an absolute last resort, sale proceeds must be used to improve outdoor facilities wherever possible and new sports facilities must be sustainable for at least 10 years.

Sport (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance the Government have given to (a) amateur sports clubs and (b) sport in schools in York since 1997.

Richard Caborn: In April 2002 the Government introduced the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) scheme. It provides such clubs with a relief of 80 per cent. on their non-domestic rates and Gift Aid on donations from individuals, as part of a wider package of benefits intended to promote community and grass roots sport.
	More than 2,400 clubs have so far registered with the scheme and received an estimated total of £5 million in tax reliefs as a result of doing so.
	21 clubs in York are enjoying the benefits of CASC status.
	In 2002 we launched the first ever comprehensive national physical education, school sport and club links strategy with an investment of £459 million. Two school sport partnerships involving seven School Sport Co-ordinators and 31 Primary Link teachers are based at Oaklands and Burnholme schools in the City of York.

Sport England

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria are used to assess Sport England's performance in meeting the Government's criteria for (a) partnership with and (b) funding of voluntary sector organisations.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport assesses Sport England's performance at quarterly meetings, on the basis of our Funding Agreement. The current Funding Agreement contains no references to criteria for partnership with, or funding of voluntary sector organisations.

Sport England

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provisions are included in Sport England's contract with national governing bodies of sport under the Whole Sport Funding Plan concerning (a) public announcements, (b) confidentiality, (c) disrepute and (d) adverse comments about Sport England.

Richard Caborn: The following provisions are incorporated within Sport England's contracts with national governing bodies of sport under the Whole Sport Plan funding arrangements:
	(a) Public Announcements
	There are no specific clauses in the agreement as currently drafted that refer to public announcements. The agreement does not prevent Governing Bodies from making public announcements about Sport England, although Sport England does ask for prior consultation before any press announcement is released.
	(b) Confidentiality
	The agreement requests that neither party disclose information relating to the agreement, its subject matter, the negotiations or the other party unless that information is publicly available or is required to be disclosed by law, provided that Sport England shall disclose all information it holds that it is required to disclose in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Governing Body shall assist Sport England if required in order that Sport England may comply with its obligations under this Act. The clause relating to confidentiality places reciprocal obligations and is intended to protect the interests of both parties.
	(c) Disrepute
	The agreement provides that neither party shall act in a way that brings the Governing Body's sport, sport or Sport England into disrepute. This does not prevent adverse comments and complaints being made about Sport England through the appropriate channels. If there is any case of genuine misadministration, there is nothing in the agreement to prevent the Governing Body from raising this and pursuing any appropriate means of redress,
	(d) Adverse Comment
	There is no mention of adverse comment in the body of agreement and no restrictions on Governing Bodies making adverse comments, subject to the disrepute clause. There is a requirement in Annex 3 that athletes who are funded or supported by a Sport England award agree not to make adverse comments about his or her sport, sport in general or Sport England.

Sport England

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) staff head count was and (b) total salary costs were at Sport England in each year since 2000.

Richard Caborn: The table provides a breakdown of figures for the number of staff and annual salary costs for Sport England since 2001–02:
	
		
			  2001–02 Actuals 2002–03 Actuals 2003–04 Actuals 2004–05 Projections 
			  Number of staff Cost (£000) Number of staff Cost (£000) Number of staff Cost (£000) Number of staff Cost (£000) 
		
		
			 North East 20 504 22 664 20 633 14 561 
			 Yorkshire 20 557 21 602 12 634 18 644 
			 East Midlands 14 529 17 643 15 644 11 567 
			 East 20 541 19 579 18 658 15 613 
			 London 22 642 22 717 20 818 18 810 
			 South East 29 864 30 934 19 826 21 767 
			 South West 19 531 21 624 22 639 17 670 
			 West Midlands 21 545 23 593 21 626 16 671 
			 North West 25 721 23 792 15 692 18 718 
			 Headquarters 258 12,463 200 12,469 124 8,750 127 6,677 
			 Total 435 17,895 385 18,617 273 14,920 275 12,698 
		
	
	Sport England changed its accounting system for the 2001–02 year. Information is therefore not readily available for previous financial years.
	The costs shown include posts funded through specific programmes by other agencies and temporary staff costs. The headcount numbers exclude posts funded through specific programmes and temporary staff as these can vary throughout the year. For 2001–02, the average number of externally funded staff was 42 and temporary staff was 96, bringing the total staff number to 573.

Sport England

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport what representations have been received from sports national governing bodies about Sport England's Whole Sport Funding Plan.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 558W. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has subsequently received representations about Sport England's Whole Sport Plans from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), on behalf of the RFU, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Football Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

CABINET OFFICE

Contaminated Land

Llew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when his department's business regulation team will publish the Remediation Licensing Task Force proposals for permitting on-site processing of contaminated soils.

David Miliband: Cabinet Office officials have been involved in the work of the Remediation Licensing Task Force. However, the Environment Agency is the regulator responsible for enforcing the new system. The Agency published a press release, along with a supporting regulatory guidance note setting out the changes, on 29 March 2005. The announcement was welcomed by the Environmental Industries Commission.

Waste Policy

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the review to assess the merits of focusing all central Government's waste policy in one Department undertaken by his Department following the Strategy Unit's Report, Waste not want not, has been completed; and what date he has planned for the publication of its conclusions.

David Miliband: The Cabinet Office expect to finalise this review shortly and to publish its conclusions during the summer.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Annunciator System

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  if he will bring forward changes to the current practices of television annunciator use on the parliamentary estate so that sets do not turn on automatically in non-public spaces;
	(2)  what steps are taken to ensure that television sets on the parliamentary estate are not automatically activated on non-sitting days.

Archy Kirkwood: There are different types of annunciator and television sets on the parliamentary estate, all of which are presently pre-set to turn on each working day in public and non public spaces whether or not the House is sitting. It would be possible to set them to be off on non-sitting days. But the majority are older style annunciators which cannot be switched on by means of remote handset and are sited out of easy reach. They could therefore be switched on individually only at disproportionate cost.

Misuse of House of Commons Facilities

Anthony Steen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission when he expects the Serjeant at Arms to report on the alleged misuse of House prepaid envelopes by the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross).

Archy Kirkwood: This is not a matter for the Commission. Any complaints that the rules on the use of House stationery and post-paid envelopes have been breached are considered by the Serjeant at Arms on behalf of Mr. Speaker.

Printer Cartridges

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate how many printer cartridges used by offices on the parliamentary estate were (a) recycled and (b) added to the general waste stream in the last year for which figures are available.

Archy Kirkwood: In the current financial year, the Serjeant at Arms Department has sent 1,066 printer cartridges for recycling. Members are encouraged to hand cartridges to Office Keepers for recycling but many prefer to send them to other organisations or charities to be recycled. In addition, 120 photocopier toner cartridges have been recycled. Since Members place orders to purchase cartridges for their parliamentary and constituency offices directly with suppliers, the total number purchased is unknown.

Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what targets have been set to reduce the amount of waste material produced on the parliamentary estate; and if he will make a statement on the outcomes measured against those targets.

Archy Kirkwood: It is the House's policy to minimise waste, but no quantified targets have been set.

TREASURY

Alcohol/Tobacco (Tax Revenues)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total tax revenues earned from alcohol and tobacco were in the UK in each year since 1975, broken down by (a) duty paid and (b) tax raised from alcohol and tobacco.

John Healey: Tobacco and alcohol duty revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Tobacco and Alcohol Factsheets, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and from Customs' website: www.uktradeinfo.com
	The above website provides 10 years' information on tobacco and alcohol duty revenues. HM Customs and Excise do not collect data on VAT from individual goods or services, but the above website provides broad estimates of VAT on alcohol and tobacco in recent years. The back series of duty revenues are shown in the Office for National Statistics publication Financial Statistics", table 2.1D, which is available at the ONS website: www.statistics.gov.uk

Annual Growth Rate

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the (a) UK and (b) EU economies are taking to meet the objective of 3 per cent. annual growth to bridge the economic gap with the United States.

Stephen Timms: The European Council concluded at its spring meeting this year that
	'it is essential to relaunch the Lisbon Strategy without delay and re-focus priorities on growth and employment'.
	The Government are committed to promoting economic reform at home and in Europe. And they continue to work closely with other member states and the Commission to advance structural reform.
	The Government's annual report sets out the measures and reforms they believe are required to deliver the Lisbon objective. The 2005 report, Growth and Opportunity: prioritising economic reform in Europe", 1 was published in February this year. Further analysis was set out in the 2005 Budget companion document, Long-term global economic challenges and opportunities for Europe". 2
	1 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/261/64/Growth_and_ Opportunity-381MB.pdf
	2 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/A1D/6B/global_final_ 140305.pdf

Burmese Community

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the size of the Burmese community in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alistair Carmichael dated 4 April 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary Question on the size of the Burmese community in the UK. (223679)
	The Office for National Statistics does not collect and code information specifically on those persons identifying themselves as ethnically Burmese.
	We do, however, collect and code information on country of birth in the census of population, such that persons who reported Myanmar (Burma) as their country of birth can be estimated every 10 years. The number of persons born in Myanmar and resident in the United Kingdom at the time of the 2001 census was 9,922.
	Among those born in Myanmar and resident in the United Kingdom at the time of the 2001 census, the main ethnic groups were as follows: white, 3,759 people (38 per cent); mixed ethnic group, 1,792 people (18 per cent); Indian, 1,049 people (11 per cent); and other ethnic group, 2,838 people (29 per cent).

Cabinet Office Budget

Llew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the Cabinet Office budget to enable the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser to enhance the advice he can provide on security issues, as recommended in paragraph 27 of Cm 6492, Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction; Implementation of its Conclusions.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The need to ensure access to relevant scientific expertise as part of the rigorous analysis of intelligence material has been recognised. As indicated in Cm6492, the increase in size of the Cabinet Office Assessments Staff will include at least one individual with a scientific background. All members of the Assessments Staff are tasked with ensuring that the relevant expert advice is sought as part of the assessment and analysis process. There are already significant scientific resources available to government on a wide range of subjects. SirDavid King is being consulted on how best use of those resources in supporting analysis of security issues can be made.

Cancer

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have under the age of 25 years suffered from cancer in (a) England, (b) the East Midlands and (c) Leicester South in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 4 April 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of people under the age of 25 years who suffered from cancer in (a) England, (b) the East Midlands and (c) Leicester South in each year since 1997. (224284)
	The most recent available figures are for the year 2001. The number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in people under the age of 25 years registered in the years 1997 to 2001 are given in the table below for England, East Midlands Government Office Region and Leicester unitary authority (which includes the Leicester South Parliamentary Constituency). Information cannot be provided for Parliamentary Constituencies that are not coterminus with administrative areas.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of all cancers(41) in people aged under 25 years in England, the East Midlands, and Leicester, 1997–2001 -- Number of cases
		
			  England East Midlands (GOR) Leicester unitary authority 
		
		
			 1997 2,544 186 20 
			 1998 2,465 197 17 
			 1999 2,529 189 11 
			 2000 2,576 207 14 
			 2001 2,527 217 16 
		
	
	(41)All cancers defined as all malignant cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes COO-C97 excluding C44.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Church Buildings (Northern Ireland)

David Trimble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will expand the VAT exemption scheme in Northern Ireland to cover all church buildings.

John Healey: The Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme was introduced while we negotiate with our European partners to secure a reduced rate of VAT for the repair and maintenance of listed places of worship. The Government recognise the importance of these buildings within their communities and that the need to use specialist craftsmen and costly materials means that their upkeep can be a heavy burden, particularly on small congregations. The same considerations do not apply to all places of worship.

Civil Service

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Departments and agencies he expects will be affected by the proposed reduction in civil service numbers; what account his Department has taken of local unemployment levels in preparation of these plans; and whether he expects that the proposed changes will affect civil servants employed in Southend-on-Sea.

Paul Boateng: The planned levels of reductions in total and in detail were set out in the Spending Review 2004 White Paper, and are summarised in Chapter 2, Table2.2.
	It is for each Department to develop their own efficiency plans, including those for workforce reductions, taking into account their business needs. Departments are currently working through detailed implementation planning including location and local numbers, in consultation with all stakeholders including unions and staff. Departments will come forward with details of their plans as these are finalised.
	Jobcentre Plus is due to close a Social Security Office in Southend-on-Sea on 1 April 2007. It is anticipated that staff will move to the Basildon Benefit Processing Centre.
	In response to planned workforce changes, the Government have established the Efficiency and Relocation Support Programme to provide information and support to those affected.

Civil Service

Quentin Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Departments and agencies in which the 12,500 reduction in civil service posts outlined in the Budget have been achieved.

Paul Boateng: The following Departments have announced reductions in their workforce:
	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Education and Skills
	Ofsted
	Trade and Industry
	Work and Pensions
	Health
	HM Treasury
	Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise
	Defence
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Currency Speculation Tax

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on an international currency speculation tax.

Dawn Primarolo: Currency transaction taxation is a long-established idea that has recently re-emerged in international discussions on how to raise development financing. The Government are prepared to consider all proposals for raising international finance for development, but there would be significant technical problems with a tax of this sort and it is not being actively considered at the present time. We believe the International Finance Facility remains the most developed proposal for providing additional resources in the region of the required $50 billion estimated for meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Customs and Excise

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) what his estimate is of the cost of funding additional travel to work by staff of the Droitwich Spa Customs and Excise following the closure of the office;
	(2)  with which Government Departments with offices in Worcestershire he has discussed the transfer of staff consequent on the closure of the Customs and Excise office in Droitwich Spa;
	(3)  whether staff transferred from the Customs and Excise office in Droitwich Spa will be offered permanent contracts in the Department to which they are transferred;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of the Droitwich Spa Customs and Excise office on (a) part-time and (b) flexible working staff.

Dawn Primarolo: Customs are looking at the feasibility of moving staff to their offices in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and possibly Coventry. No final decision has been taken as to where staff will be relocated and it is not possible to quantify any additional travelling costs.
	Inland Revenue, DEFRA and the Crown Prosecution Service have been made aware of the position of Customs staff at Droitwich.
	There is a mix of permanent and fixed term contract staff at Droitwich. The fixed term staff were originally employed on work that was not due to be retained at Droitwich on a permanent basis. The closure of Droitwich has not altered this position.
	It is expected that permanent staff who choose to move to other Departments will do so on a permanent basis.
	All staff based at Droitwich are being consulted on an individual basis about the practicalities of them following their work. An initial assessment has been completed and local managers are in the process of exploring options with each member of staff.Customs' Regional Head would be pleased to meet the hon. Member to explain where matters stand once the picture is clearer.

Departmental Budget

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the planned (a) capital and (b) resource budget for his Department is for 2011–12.

Stephen Timms: Resource and capital departmental expenditure limit (DEL) budgets up to 2007–08 are set out by department in annex C of Budget 2005. DEL budgets beyond 2007–08 will, as normal, be determined in future spending reviews.

Enhanced Capital Allowances

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have received enhanced capital allowances in each of the last three years; and what the total cost was.

Dawn Primarolo: The total number of companies that ticked a box on their Corporation Tax returns to show a claim to enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) on their annual investment in designated environmentally beneficial technologies, including cars with low carbon dioxide emissions is detailed as follows.
	
		Companies claiming ECAs on their corporation tax return form(42)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 60 
			 2002–03 848 
			 2003–04(43) 1,412 
		
	
	(42)These numbers do not include claims to capital allowances made or amended after a company has sent in its corporation tax return for (CT600).
	(43)Information for 2003–04 is not yet complete.
	The actual costs to the Exchequer of ECAs are not available. However, an estimate of the expected cost of the scheme is set out in Table 3.1 on page 210 of the Budget report 2005.

Enhanced Capital Allowances

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the application process for enhanced capital allowances.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no special rules for businesses claiming enhanced capital allowances for investments in environmentally beneficial technologies (ECAs). Businesses claim these allowances in their corporation or income tax returns, in the same way as they would claim other capital allowances. The Inland Revenue keep all processes connected with tax reliefs under regular review, and are not aware that businesses have any particular difficulty in claiming ECAs.

European Union

David Marshall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value is of the UK's financial contribution to the European Union since the UK joined.

Stephen Timms: The UK's total net contribution (i.e. gross contribution, after abatement, less public sector receipts) to the EC Budget over the period 1973–74 to 2003–04 was some £50.9 billion. The Government's latest estimate for 2004–05 is £4.3 billion (net contribution).

European Union

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's (a) rebate from the EU, (b) net contribution to the EU excluding the rebate and (c) net contribution to the Common Agriculture Policy excluding the rebate has been in each year since the rebate was introduced; how the rebate is calculated; how it is affected by changes in the UK net contributions to (i) the EU and (ii) the CAP; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The European Commission is directly and solely responsible for calculating the UK abatement. The formula for the calculation is set out in Article 4 of the Own Resources Decision (Council Decision 2000/597/EC, Euratom of 29 September 2000 and explained in more detail in a Working Methods Paper first published in 1988 and revised in 1994 and 2000 (10646/00 ADD 2 of 21 September 2000). A more detailed explanation can be found in the Glossary of the 2004 European Community Finances" White Paper (Cm 6134, page 26).
	The UK rebate and net contribution to the EC Budget, excluding the rebate, for the period 1985–86 to 2003–04 are set out in the following table.
	
		£ million
		
			  UK Rebate UK net contribution, excluding UK rebate 
		
		
			 1985–86 823 1,815 
			 1986–87 1,343 2,564 
			 1987–88 1,137 2,948 
			 1988–89 1,600 2,767 
			 1989–90 1,317 3,769 
			 1990–91 1,838 4,023 
			 1991–92 2,428 3,371 
			 1992–93 1,993 4,161 
			 1993–94 2,350 4,542 
			 1994–95 1,648 3,289 
			 1995–96 1,576 5,428 
			 1996–97 2,418 4,712 
			 1997–98 1,563 4,130 
			 1998–99 2,447 6,557 
			 1999–2000 2,206 5,531 
			 2000–01 2,223 6,541 
			 2001–02 4,427 5,903 
			 2002–03 3,233 6,314 
			 2003–04 3,874 7,139 
		
	
	The Government's latest estimate of these two figures for 2004–05 are £3,722 million and £8,032 million respectively. The UK makes its contributions to the EC Budget as a whole and not to specific areas of expenditure. There is not therefore a UK net contribution to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Financial Inclusion Fund

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Inclusion Fund will be set up; how applications to it will be made; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The 2004 pre-Budget report announced a Financial Inclusion Fund of £120 million over the 2004 Spending Review period. In particular, the fund will support the Government's aims to increase access to forms of affordable credit and to see a significant increase in the capacity of free face-to-face money advice. Further details will be announced shortly.

High Energy Manufacturing Industries

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce taxation on high energy manufacturing industries.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government conducts an on-going dialogue with representatives across the manufacturing industry. The Chancellor will consider any changes to the corporate tax system as part of the normal Budget cycle.

Job Creation (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in Wimbledon since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been ask to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Roger Casale, dated 4 April 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of jobs created in Wimbledon. (224243)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.
	The attached table shows the number of jobs in Wimbledon from 1997 to 2003 and the net change over that period. This is the latest period for which information is available.
	The Annual Business Inquiry and Annual Employment Survey, are sample surveys and therefore the estimates used in this answer are subject to sampling variability. The small change in the number of jobs in Wimbledon from 1997 to 2003 should therefore be treated with caution.
	
		Number of employee jobs and change in jobs(44)(5507620045) in the parliamentary constituency of Wimbledon: 1997 to 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 43,000 
			 1998 45,000 
			 1999 48,000 
			 2000 50,000 
			 2001 48,000 
			 2002 46,000 
			 2003 43,000 
			 Change(46) in number of jobs since 1997 -1,000 
		
	
	(44)Excludes self-employed jobs.
	(45)These figures are aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1993 SIC) have been excluded.
	(46)The change from 1997 to 2003 has been rounded to the nearest thousand separately from rounded levels.
	Source:
	1997: Annual Employment Survey, rescaled. 1998–2002: Annual Business Inquiry

Listed Places of Worship

Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow listed places of worship under his Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to reclaim VAT paid on renovations and improvements which are designed to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 2000.

John Healey: There is already a VAT zero rate for approved alterations to certain listed buildings, including places of worship. There is also a VAT zero rate for certain works to improve facilities for disabled people within charity buildings.
	Most works of renovation and improvement to listed places of worship which are necessary to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act will come within the scope of these reliefs or are covered by the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme.

Nuclear Plants

Llew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on tax revenue of the implementation of Statutory Instruments No.644, of 10 March, in respect of the Thorp nuclear reprocessing plant and the Sellafield Mox plant, over the full period of the operation of those plants.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not expected that any tax will be lost to the Exchequer. Statutory Instrument 2005/644 is expected to protect tax revenues as the activities it deals with are likely to be loss-making for tax purposes. The background to this and the purpose of the legislation was set out in more detail in the explanatory notes to Section 27 of the Energy Act 2004.

Part-time Workers (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) male and (b) female part-time workers there are in City of York parliamentary constituency.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 4 April 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about part-time employment in the City of York Parliamentary Constituency. (224643)
	According to responses to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) sample survey for the twelve month period ending in February 2004, among people resident in the City of York Parliamentary Constituency 3,000 men and 13,000 women were working part-time.
	These estimates from the LFS are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Pension Funds

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the limits on the commutation of small pension funds into lump sums.

Stephen Timms: From 6 April 2006 there will be a facility for pension scheme members to commute trivial pensions and take the pension as a lump sum, where pension benefits have a total capital value of less than 1 per cent. of the lifetime allowance. The lifetime allowance will be £1.5 million at its introduction in April 2006, rising to £1.8 million by 2010. So, at the introduction of the simplified tax regime, the trivial commutation threshold will be £15,000. People in this position will be able to choose a year falling between their 60th and 75th birthdays in which all trivial pensions may be commuted.
	The trivial commutation rules ensure that members will not be forced to purchase an annuity with very small amounts of pension savings which could prove to be uneconomic and disproportionately bureaucratic for both schemes and members.
	The rules are the result of extensive consultation prior to legislation. As part of this consultation the Government published Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing flexibility for all" (December 2002) and Simplifying the taxation of pensions: the Government's proposals" (December 2003).

Property Values (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties valued at between £60,000 and £120,000 there are in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office does not hold statistics on the numbers of residential property within the value range indicated at current levels of value. The Valuation List however lists all residential property in England according to capital value as at 1 April 1991 for council tax purposes. As at 31 October 2004 residential properties in Lancashire (including Chorley) and Chorley were assessed for council tax in the following bands:
	
		
			 CT band Value range (£) Total Lancashire Total Chorley 
		
		
			 A Up to 40,000 258,145 13,836 
			 B 40,001 to 52,000 123,626 9,733 
			 C 52,001 to 68,000 112,203 8,241 
			 D 68,001 to 88,000 68,841 5,485 
			 E 88,001 to 120,000 39,431 4,133 
			 F 120,001 to 160,000 18,112 1,632 
			 G 160,001 to 320,000 10,489 716 
			 H Over 320,000 806 62 
		
	
	The Valuation Offices's property market report indicates that levels of value in Lancaster for an average semi-detached property increased some 135 per cent. between spring 1991 and July 2004.

Southend

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons aged 17 and under have lived in Southend in each year since 1995.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 4 April 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of people aged 17 and under that have lived in Southend in each year since 1995. (223976)
	Below is a table showing the 1995 to 2003 mid-year population estimates for those aged 17 and under within Southend Unitary Authority.
	
		Mid-year population estimates for those aged 17 and under -- (Thousand)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 35.9 
			 1996 36.1 
			 1997 36.7 
			 1998 36.5 
			 1999 36.5 
			 2000 36.2 
			 2001 36.0 
			 2002 35.9 
			 2003 35.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Stability and Growth Pact

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect on the economies of EU countries of the recent changes to the operation of the Stability and Growth Pact.

Stephen Timms: The Government have consistently argued for a prudent interpretation of the Stability and Growth Pact that takes account of country-specific factors including debt sustainability, the economic cycle and public investment.

Tax Avoidance

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is planning to put in place to enhance anti-avoidance measures for tax purposes at an international level.

Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor announced a package of anti avoidance measures during his Budget speech which tackle the avoidance of UK tax by international tax planning.
	Measures were announced to prevent the avoidance of capital gains tax by individuals and trusts. Action has also been taken to prevent individuals and companies manipulating the rules that give relief for overseas tax, and to strengthen the existing controlled foreign company rules.
	Anti avoidance measures were also announced by the Chancellor which affect both UK and international avoidance, including action against avoidance through arbitrage, persons who act together and collectively control a business and avoidance using shares and derivatives in place of loans.
	The Government are committed to creating a fairer tax system. Artificial and contrived tax avoidance schemes undermine fairness, at the expense of those who do not indulge in them.

Tax Credits

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1064W, on tax credits, whether the omission of earnings of one partner on tax credits awards issued in 2003–04 occurred as a result of (a) human processing error and (b) a computer systems failure.

Dawn Primarolo: My earlier answer stated that the Inland Revenue is aware of a small number of occasions in 2003–04 when the earnings of one partner were omitted in a joint tax credits award. This error occurred when staff did not follow the correct procedure to update the tax credits computer system with more recent information about income.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the take-up of (a) working tax credit, (b) child tax credit and (c) child care tax credit was in 2003–04.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the take-up rate of child and working tax credit will not be available until household survey data for 2003–04 have been analysed. Subject to ensuring the data and methodology are sufficiently robust, we expect the analysis to be completed towards the end of 2005–06.
	Latest statistics show that at 3 December 2004 5.9 million families were benefiting from these tax credits.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend Table 3 on page 30 of Tax credits: reforming financial support for families" (March 2005) so as to show marginal deduction rates of over 50 per cent. and over 40 per cent. (a) before 1998 and (b) in 2005–06.

Dawn Primarolo: The table is an extension of table 4.3 in Tax credits: reforming financial support for families", and also of table 4.2 in Budget 2005 (HC 372).
	
		
			 Marginal deduction rate (percentage)  Before budget 1998 2005–06 system of tax and benefits 
		
		
			 Over 100 5,000 0 
			 Over 90 130,000 30,000 
			 Over 80 300,000 165,000 
			 Over 70 740,000 235,000 
			 Over 60 760,000 1,730,000 
			 Over 50 760,000 1,900,000 
			 Over 40 800,000 2,095,000 
		
	
	Figures are cumulative. This table shows marginal deduction rates for working households in receipt of income related benefits or tax credits, where at least one person works 16 hours or more a week, where the head of the household is not disabled, and where higher earnings would lead to reduced benefits or tax credits. They include the marginal effects of income tax and national insurance contributions, and the withdrawal of housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	This analysis does not take into account the way in which the new tax credits will respond to rises in income. The new tax credits only respond to rises in income in the current year of more than £2,500, disregarding the first £2,500 of any rise. This means that recipients will not see their tax credits reduced as soon as their income rises, so reducing the effective marginal deduction in any one year.
	As a result of the Government's reforms, around half a million fewer low-income households now face marginal deduction rates in excess of 70 per cent. than did so in April 1998. The increase in the number of households facing marginal deduction rates of between 40 and 70 per cent. is primarily due to the introduction of tax credits, and more recently the extension of support to workers aged 25 or over without children. The number of heads that face an excess of 70 per cent. has fallen. This is because administrative data suggests a reported fall in the number of families on multiple tapers, i.e. non-disabled persons working more than 16hours in receipt of tax credits and housing benefit and/or council tax benefit.

Tax Rates (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) the UK, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the City of York pay (i) half or more than half of their income tax and (ii) all of their income tax at the 10 pence starting rate.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to table 2.1 Number of individual income taxpayers" on the InlandRevenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2–1.pdf. This table shows that 3.4 million income taxpayers in the UK in 2004–05 pay all of their income tax at the starting rate. 4.7 million UK income taxpayers pay half or more than half of their total income tax liability at the starting rate. These estimates are based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes 2002–03 and are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2004. Estimates consistent with the Budget 2005 will be published on the Inland Revenue website at the end of April 2005.
	I refer the hon. Friend to table 3.11 Income and tax, by region and country", 3.15 Total income by parliamentary constituency" and the introductory note on personal incomes on the Inland Revenue website for the available income tax statistics for Yorkshire and the Humber and the City of York. The information can be found at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income–distribution/table311–0203.pdf, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income–distribution/table-3–15.pdf and www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income–distribution/inc-distribution-note.pdf.

VAT (Child Care)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the voluntary sector's ability to deliver welfare services of his decision to refund the VAT which local authorities incur in the provision of child care and children's centres.

Dawn Primarolo: Where the Government procure welfare services from voluntary and community sector providers, it should be on the basis of full cost recovery, including any associated VAT costs providers incur. This decision will therefore have no adverse impact on the delivery of welfare services by voluntary and community sector organisations.

Working Tax Credit

Win Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of families eligible for, but not claiming, working tax credit in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) Bridgend; and what plans he has to improve take-up.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of families eligible for, but not claiming working tax credit is not available.
	Estimates of the number of UK families who are entitled to child and working tax credit in 2003–04 will not be published until household survey data have been analysed. Subject to ensuring the data and methodology are sufficiently robust, we expect the analysis to be completed towards the end of 2005–06.
	Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits in each country and constituency appear in Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004." This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
	For details of the Inland Revenue's work to encourage take-up, I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24 March 2005, Official Report, columns 949–50W to the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham).

Working Tax Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged over 50 years have claimed the return to work element of the working tax credit in each quarter since the introduction of the payment.

Dawn Primarolo: Numbers of beneficiaries based on final 2003–04 incomes and circumstances will be published on 31 May 2005.

TRANSPORT

Air Fares

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the likely effect on air fares of the new compensation rules agreed by the European Union in respect of air passengers; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: An assessment of the likely impact of Council Regulation 261/2004 on air fares was set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) accompanying Explanatory Memorandum 12190/03 sent to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees on 29 September 2003. A final, updated version of the RIA will be placed in the Llibraries of both Houses shortly as an annex to the RIA accompanying the UK's associated enforcement Regulations.

Air Travellers (Financial Protection)

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of UK international leisure air travellers that were covered by ATOL in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage his Department estimates will be covered in five years' time;
	(2)  if he will implement the Transport Select Committee's recommendation in its report, Financial Protection for Air Travellers, Fifteenth Report, Session 2003–04, to apply a levy on the sale of all tickets.

Charlotte Atkins: Statistics compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority indicate the percentage of UK international leisure air travellers covered by ATOL over the last 10 years was as follows:
	
		
			  Leisure passengers (million) ATOL protected passengers (million) ATOL protected (percentage) 
		
		
			 1994 22.7 17.0 75 
			 1995 23.2 19.1 82 
			 1996 22.2 21.3 96 
			 1997 24.0 23.5 98 
			 1998 27.4 25.0 91 
			 1999 30.3 26.4 87 
			 2000 33.5 28.0 84 
			 2001 35.9 29.1 81 
			 2002 36.8 27.9 76 
			 2003 39.6 27.6 70 
		
	
	The Civil Aviation Authority has not yet submitted advice to Government on its economic assessment of the wider options relating to the future financial protection of air travellers. This advice will project ATOL protection over the next 10 years. Only when we have considered this advice will the Government be in a position to respond substantively to the Transport Select Committee.

Air Travellers (Financial Protection)

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what research he has undertaken into the effectiveness of scheduled airline failure insurance as a means of repatriating those stranded overseas following airline failure;
	(2)  what percentage of air travellers his Department estimates are protected by scheduled airline failure insurance.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has not commissioned research into the effectiveness of scheduled airline failure insurance, which allows stranded passengers to recover their costs of getting home. We understand from the insurance industry that some 7 million people are estimated to be protected by such insurance, bought either directly by the customer or indirectly via the agent selling the air ticket. This represents approximately 20 per cent. of the UK international leisure travel market.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long after a vehicle is (a) licensed for the first time and (b) relicensed the information about that licence is included on the database for Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

David Jamieson: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides police automated number plate recognition cameras with details of vehicles which have been unlicensed for two months or more. From April this information will be provided twice monthly. Details of licensed vehicles are not provided.
	As a separate exercise, the DVLA vehicle database is downloaded onto the Police National Computer every 24 hours. This gives the police access to information about the vehicle keeper and indicates if the vehicle has been unlicensed for more than three months.

Brighton Main Line

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to issue his official response to the route utilisation study strategy for the Brighton Main Line.

Tony McNulty: Consideration is being given to the issues raised during consultation and a final route utilisation strategy will be published in due course.

Crossrail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's latest assessment is of the timescale for the implementation of the Crossrail project.

Tony McNulty: Main construction of Crossrail could not start until the necessary powers are in place. A hybrid Bill seeking such powers was introduced on 22 February 2005. Previous experience, with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, suggests that the Crossrail Bill will not complete its passage before 2007. On that basis, the assumption remains that Crossrail services would start in 2013.

Departmental Budget

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the planned (a) capital and (b) resource budget for his Department is for 2011–12.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary today.

East Midlands Airport

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require the management of Nottingham East Midlands airport to provide full and frank factual information about its plans for expanding the number of night flights in and out of the airport.

Charlotte Atkins: We would expect the airport operator to include this information in its draft master plan, which is expected to be published for consultation during the summer.

Free Bus Passes

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) pensioners and (b) people with disabilities wishing to travel by bus to neighbouring local authority areas will benefit from the free bus pass proposed in the Budget.

Charlotte Atkins: Concessionary fares schemes for older and disabled people are provided by non-metropolitan district councils, unitary councils, passenger transport executives and the London boroughs. Councils have the discretion to provide concessionary fares on journeys in neighbouring authorities, and authorities can agree to provide joint schemes over a wider area, such as a county, or a county and neighbouring unitary council. Many already do so and they will continue to be able to do so when the statutory minimum fare is increased from half fare to free fare in April 2006.

Freedom of Information Act

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice or instructions he has given to the Civil Aviation Authority about the need to deal expeditiously and candidly with requests from the public under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The statutory guidance for public bodies on Freedom of Information, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs' Code of Practice on the discharge of public authorities' functions under Part I of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, is produced by the Department of Constitutional Affairs. The document is on the internet at the following address http://www.foi.gov.uk/codepafunc.htm, and is available in the Library of the House.
	The Department for Transport has not given any supplementary advice or instructions to the Civil Aviation Authority on handling Freedom of Information requests. However, the Department has provided its own internal guidance on Freedom of Information to the authority, to assist it in producing its own guidance.
	In line with the Code of Practice, the Civil Aviation Authority has established its own complaints procedure; in the first instance, an applicant should pursue a complaint through this if he/she is dissatisfied with the authority's handling of a Freedom of Information request. If this process is exhausted and the applicant remains dissatisfied, the applicant may complain to the Information Commissioner.

General Lighthouse Fund

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost in each year since 2000 was of the provision by the UK General Lighthouse Fund of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

David Jamieson: The contribution from the General Lighthouse Fund to the provision of navigational aids in the Republic of Ireland since 2000 is given as follows:
	
		
			  £ million sterling 
		
		
			 2000–01 4.4 
			 2001–02 5.5 
			 2002–03 5.8 
			 2003–04 5.9

General Lighthouse Fund

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the UK General Lighthouse Fund is a public corporation.

David Jamieson: The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for classifying economic entities in accordance with the European System of Accounts. The General Lighthouse Fund is classified by ONS as a public corporation.

Global Road Safety

Lewis Moonie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what action his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to UN resolution A/58/L60 on improving global road safety; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what action his Department has taken in response to the World Health Organisation and World Bank report on road traffic injury prevention of April 2004; what plans his Department has to work with road safety organisations towards meeting the report's objectives; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to facilitate co-operation between his Department and the Department for International Development on global road safety issues;
	(4)  what contribution his Department has made to the pursuit of global road safety issues; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what action his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to UN resolution A/58/L60 on improving global road safety; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank World report on road traffic injury prevention" focused attention on the global impact of road accidents on low and middle income countries. The Department for Transport also welcomes the UN resolution on improving road safety. The resolution noted the recommendations of the World Report and invited the WHO to act as co-ordinator on road safety issues.
	The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) was founded in 1999 to increase awareness of road safety and promote reductions in deaths and serious injury resulting from road traffic accidents in developing and transition countries. GRSP is a partnership between businesses and governments and is sponsored by the Department for International Development.
	Department for Transport officials support the activities of WHO in this area and are presently participating in work on child injury prevention. We recognise the problems faced by developing countries and have provided support where we are able, including sponsoring a conference on driver training and testing, held in India in 2002.

Highways Agency Business Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency Business Plan 2005–06 will be published; and on what date in 2004 the Business Plan for 2004–05 was published.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency Business Plan 2005–06 was published on 24 March 2005 and the Business Plan for 2004–05 was published on 30 March 2004.

Highways Agency Business Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the Highways Agency Business Plan 2005–06 includes no reference to improving the A358 between Ilminster and the M5; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency's Business Plan 2005–06 sets out the forward programme of major schemes to be progressed in the period 2005–06 to 2007–08. Schemes expected to be taken forward after 2007–08, including the proposed improvement to the A358 between Ilminster and the M5, are not included in the Plan.

Highways Agency Business Plan

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce whether schemes set out in the Highways Agency Business Plan 2005–06 as awaiting inclusion in the Targeted Programme for Improvements are to be included.

David Jamieson: All the schemes set out in the Highways Agency Business Plan 2005–06 as awaiting inclusion in the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI), with the exception of M11 J8–9 Widening, were added to the TPI on 24 March 2005.
	In respect of the M11 J8–9 scheme, the Highways Agency has been asked to undertake further work so that it can be considered for entry to the TPI as soon as possible.

Liquid Natural Gas Tanker Shipments

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the suitability of Milford Haven for liquid natural gas tanker shipments; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department has not made any assessment of the suitability of Milford Haven for liquid natural gas shipments. Comprehensive risk assessments have, however, been undertaken by the statutory undertaker, the Milford Haven Port Authority.

Liquid Natural Gas Tanker Shipments

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Health and Safety Executive's quantitative risk assessment of the liquid natural gas tankers proposed for Milford Haven; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Neither the Department nor the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the UK's competent authority for regulating shipping, are aware of any risk assessment of natural gas tankers undertaken by the HSE.
	The HSE has assessed the risk associated with storage and transport of liquefied natural gas at Milford Haven, and it is for the Harbour Authority to draw on this in producing its own comprehensive risk assessment. The Department for Transport has not made any assessment of the suitability of Milford Haven for liquid natural gas operations.

Local Authority Grants

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grants local authorities in the South West Region have been allocated for transport for the spending period (a) SR02, (b) SR03 and (c) SR04.

Charlotte Atkins: The total amount of supported transport capital funding and targeted transport revenue grants provided to the 15 local transport authorities in the South West Region between the years 200203 to 200405 was approximately 514 million. Capital maintenance and integrated transport schemes (each costing less than 5 million) are supported through Revenue Support Grant. Funding support for major schemes (each costing more than 5 million) has been provided through a combination of direct grants and borrowing supported through Revenue Support Grant.
	The following table sets out the grants for each year.
	
		 million
		
			 South West Nature of funding 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Capital maintenance 82.343 83.194 96.103 
			 Integrated transport block 59.15 58.8 61.598 
			 Targeted bus grants(47) 15.980 12.374 9.855 
			 Major schemes 9.498 9.443 15.656 
			 Total 166.971 163.811 183.212 
		
	
	(47)Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding

Rail Freight

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to expand rail freight movements through Bassetlaw using the existing coal freight line network;
	(2)  what plans he has to re-open the railhead at Manton colliery.

Tony McNulty: There are no current plans for the expansion of rail freight movements through Bassetlaw on the existing coal freight line network, or for the re-opening of the railhead at Manton Colliery.

Roads Budget

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change is planned in the roads budget over the next five years; and which road improvement projects are projected to be (a) started and (b) completed during that period.

David Jamieson: We announced last year investment funding for the next three years (200506, 200607, 200708) of 4.6 billion. This funding covers transport schemes delivered by local authorities, including local authority major road and public transport schemes, and planned investment funding for regionally important schemes delivered by the Highways Agency. This funding is in addition to the l billion programme of major improvements to strategic roads of national importance over the next three years announced by the Highways Agency in December 2004. Funding from 200809 onwards will be subject to the next Spending Review.
	Under the regional and national funding allocations for 200506 to 200708 announced in November and December 2004, the following table lists the road schemes that are either under construction and will be complete, or are currently projected to commence, by April 2008, subject to completion of all necessary statutory procedures and compliance with conditions of funding approval.
	Local authority schemes
	East Leeds Link Road
	Leeds Inner Ring Road stage 7
	Sheffield Inner Relief Road stages 2 and 3
	Hemsworth A1 link road in Wakefield
	Barnsley A628 Cudworth and West Green Bypass
	North Yorkshire A165 Reighton Bypass
	Wakefield Glass Houghton Coalfields Link Road
	Rotherham West Bawtry Road Improvement
	Rotherham A57 Junction 31Todwick Crossroads Improvement
	A142 Fordham Bypass in Cambridgeshire
	A505 Baldock Bypass in Hertfordshire
	A13/A127 Integrated Transport scheme in Southend
	A507 Ridgmont Bypass and Woburn Link in Bedfordshire
	Bedford Western Bypass
	A1198 Papworth Everard Bypass in Cambridgeshire
	B1115 Stowmarket Relief Road in Suffolk
	South Lowestoft Relief Road and associated improvements
	A167 Chilton Bypass in Durham
	Scotswood Road in Newcastle
	South Stockton LinkStage 3
	Sunderland Southern Radial Route
	Northumberland Pegswood Bypass
	Sunderland Central Route
	North Middlesbrough accessibility improvements
	Bletchley link in Milton Keynes
	A228 Leybourne and West Malling Corridor Improvement
	East Kent Access scheme (Phase 1)
	A4146 Stoke Hammond to Linslade Bypass in Buckinghamshire
	Plymouth Northern Corridor (mixed public transport and roads)
	North West Taunton Package
	Barnstaple Western BypassWeymouth Relief Road
	Salisbury Brunel link/Harnham relief road
	Poole Bridge Regeneration scheme
	A39 Camelford Distributor Road in Cornwall
	A391 St. Austell to A30 Cornwall
	Salford A57 Cadishead Way
	Rearsby Bypass in Leicestershire
	Partney Bypass in Lincolnshire
	Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route in Nottinghamshire
	A6096 IlkestonAwsworth Link in Derbyshire
	Markham Employment Growth Zone in Derbyshire
	A43 Corby Link Road in Northamptonshire
	A509 Isham Bypass in Northamptonshire
	A612 Gedling integrated transport scheme in Nottinghamshire
	The Oakham Bypass in Rutland
	Burgh le Marsh Bypass in Lincolnshire
	Orby Bypass in Lincolnshire
	Highways Agency schemes
	National schemes
	Schemes under construction
	M60 J58 (formerly M63 J69 Widening)
	M25 J1215 Widening
	Al (M) Wetherby-Walshford (DBFO)
	Schemes planned to start construction by April 2008
	M4 J18 Eastbound Diverge
	M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement
	M6 Carlisle to Guards Mill
	A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement
	A1 BramhamWetherby (including Wetherby Bypass)
	M1 J6A to J10 Widening
	A14 Haughley New St. to Stowmarket Improvement
	M1 J21 to J30 Widening (early improvements)
	M25 J1b to J3 Widening
	M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge Roundabout)
	M25 J16 to J23 Widening (DBFO)
	M1 J19/M6
	M62 J6 Improvement
	Regional schemes
	Schemes under construction
	A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction
	A421 Great Barford Bypass
	A47 Thorney Bypass
	A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1
	A21 Lamberhurst Bypass
	A249 IwadeQueenborough (DBFO)
	A5 WeefordFazeley Improvement
	A500 City Road and Stoke Road Junctions
	A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor (DBFO)
	A64 Colton Lane GSJ
	A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction
	Schemes planned to start construction by April 2008
	M5 J17 to J18A Northbound Climbing Lane (Hallen Hill)
	A421 Bedford to M1 Junction 13
	A1 PeterboroughBlyth
	A19/A184 Testos Roundabout
	A590 High and Low Newton Bypass
	A66 Temple Sowerby
	A57/A628 MottramHollingworthTintwhistle
	A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2
	A2/A282 Dartford Improvement
	A27 Southerham-Beddingham Improvement
	A30/A3 82 Merrymeet Junction
	A30 Bodmin Indian Queens
	M5 J19 to J20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill)
	M5 J19 to J20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill)
	A419 Commonhead Junction
	A38 Dobwalls Bypass
	A419 Blunsdon
	A45/A46 Tollbar End
	A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Dualling
	A66 Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor Dualling
	A66 Long Newton GSJ
	A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement
	A595 PartonLillyhall Improvement
	A11 Attleborough Bypass

Speed Limits

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require local authorities to make 20mph the default speed limit outside schools.

David Jamieson: The Department encourages local authorities to introduce 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones outside schools wherever appropriate, but recognises that particular circumstances at particular locations may make this inappropriate.

Speed Limits

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require local authorities to make 30mph the default speed limit in built-up areas.

David Jamieson: Where built up areas have street lightingas most do30 mph is already the default speed limit, and local highway authorities are in any event able to set a 30 mph limit on any road.

Traffic Congestion

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to address congestion at the A14 and M11 junction.

David Jamieson: Proposals to improve the A14 and M11 junction at Girton in Cambridgeshire are included in the proposed A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvement. Public Consultation on proposals for the scheme started on 30 March 2005.

Traffic Congestion

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to address traffic congestion at the M4 and M5 junction.

David Jamieson: A study report was produced in 199899 which recommended measures to reduce congestion at the M4/M5 Almondsbury Interchange. Of these recommendations two schemes, to improve the M4 westbound to M5 slip road diverge and the M5 south to M4 east slip road, have been completed. Both of these schemes improved capacity and safety by widening of the carriageway and providing additional lanes.
	Further work is also taking place on a wider look at future transport needs for the area through the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study. Almondsbury Interchange and the nearby M5 Junction 16 are specifically identified as problems for the study to consider.

Traffic Congestion

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to address traffic congestion at the M40 and A46 junction.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has recently improved the M40 and A46 junction at Longbridge in Warwickshire by resurfacing and widening the carriageway around the roundabout and on the slip roads. New traffic signals have also been installed. These measures will ease congestion in the short term.
	Proposals to provide a bridge over the M40 and new link roads to further improve the capacity of this junction are included in the M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge) Improvement. Draft Orders for the scheme are expected to be published in the autumn, and subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, work on the scheme could start in spring 2007 and be completed by autumn 2008.

Train Services (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains between Leicester and London St.Pancras (a) have been cancelled in the last (i) three and (ii) six months and (b) were cancelled in 2004.

Tony McNulty: The cancellation figures are as follows:
	
		
			  From Leicester From London Total 
		
		
			 (a)(i) 48 49 97 
			 (a)(ii) 69 73 142 
			 (b) 176 201 377

Transport Access (Disabled)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on providing improved access to transport for disabled people on (a) buses and (b) the rail network in (i) England and (ii) Leicester South in each year since 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: Regulations introduced under Part5 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) require that all new public service vehicles used on local and scheduled service with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers, and all new rail vehicles, have to be accessible to disabled people. In addition, duties under Part 3 of the DDA require service providers to take reasonable steps to provide access to transport infrastructure such as bus and railway stations.
	Prior to July 2000 the Government provided funding to improve access to public transport through the Transport Policies and Programme (TPP) system. Local authorities were allocated funding for individual schemes on an annual basis. This system was replaced by the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process which takes a more strategic approach. Local transport authorities in England outside London produce 5-year LTPs, and report on progress against these plans in Annual Progress Reports (APRs). The first 5-year plans were submitted in 2000. The following table details the funding for bus grant schemes since their introduction in the 199899 financial year, allocated nationally and to the Central Leicestershire Local Transport Plan area, which includes Leicester, South. Decisions on how to target funding towards specific projects and initiatives such as those to improve public transport accessibility are made at local level.
	
		Targeted bus grants(48) --  million
		
			   Nationally Leicester, South (Central Leicestershire) local authority 
		
		
			 199899 43.7 0.63 
			 19992000 49.3 0.56 
			 200001 53.7 2.18 
			 200102 77.3 1.84 
			 200203 85.7 0.81 
			 200304 88.4 0.92 
			 200405 51.0 0.85 
		
	
	(48)Includes Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and both Rural and Urban Bus challenge funding
	On access to the rail network, I announced on the 22 March a 370 million Access for All Fund for improving the accessibility of railway stations. The SRA is currently consulting on their Disability Strategy and the outcome will determine how best to spend this extra money. In addition, by the end of this year more than 4,000 new fully accessible rail vehicles will have been introduced onto the network since 1997 at a cost of 4.2billion. I note that many of these new trains serve Leicester station.

Zebra Crossings (Safety)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred on or near zebra crossings in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The numbers of recorded injury road accidents which occurred on or near a zebra crossing in each year since 1997 are shown in the following table:
	
		Number of accidents occurring on or near a zebra crossing: GB 19972003
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight All 
		
		
			 1997 53 921 5,742 6,716 
			 1998 49 843 5,775 6,667 
			 1999 39 769 5,452 6,260 
			 2000 34 722 5,046 5,802 
			 2001 50 673 4,836 5,559 
			 2002 45 727 4,794 5,566 
			 2003 31 672 4,868 5,571

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Building Regulations

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to extend requirements to comply with building regulations to those ex-nationalised industries which are excluded; and when he expects to reach conclusions about minimising the range of Crown exemptions under these regulations.

Phil Hope: Amendments made to the Building Act 1984 by the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 will allow the exemption from the requirements of the Building Regulations granted to statutory undertakers to cease to have effect. The Government will shortly be consulting on the removal of this exemption.
	At present the Crown has immunity from complying with the requirements of the Building Regulations. There is provision in the Building Act 1984 for the partial removal of this immunity. The Government would need to consult with those covered by the immunity about how far and how quickly it should be removed.

Building Regulations

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish his proposed changes to part L of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Following a public consultation officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are reviewing the proposed changes to part L in conjunction with a Working Party of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. The proposals are expected to be finalised this summer and published at the first opportunity thereafter.

Business Rates

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many non-domestic hereditaments with a rateable value of less than 25,000 there are in each billing authority following the 2005 revaluation of non-domestic properties for business rates.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested has been made available in the Library of the House.

Fair Trade Products (Best Value)

Alan Duncan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will exempt Fair Trade products from the requirement on local authorities to purchase less expensive alternatives under the terms of their Best Value procurement obligations.

Nick Raynsford: Local authorities are responsible for taking their own decisions on procurement within the framework of the European Union Treaty, the EU Procurement Directives, the regulations that implement them in the UK and other domestic legislation. Fair trade options have to be considered by local authorities within this framework. The duty of Best Value, as laid down in legislation, requires authorities to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which they exercise their functions, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Best Value recognises that successful procurement strategies are likely to be based on whole life cost considerations that include subsequent revenue implications, and not simply the lowest initial tender price.

Fire Service (Assaults)

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many assaults there have been on fire crews in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Since April 2004 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales have been asked to report attacks on firefighters through the Fire or Incident of Special Interest ( FOSI) system. The FOSI (attacks on firefighters) definition includes verbal abuse, acts of aggression, harassment, objects thrown at appliances and physical abuse. Since that time 605 incidents in England and Wales have been reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Housing

Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families there were in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly and is in respect of households rather than families. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation as at 31 March of each year in Shrewsbury and Atcham, since 1997, is tabled as follows. Also shown is the number of acceptances, and those in temporary accommodation, as a percentage of all households in Shrewsbury and Atcham.
	After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. As an alternative to temporary accommodation an authority may arrange for a household to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Shrewsbury and Atcham district council
		
			   Acceptances(49)(5507620050) Households in temporary  accommodation(50)(5507620051) (as at  31 March) Rough Sleepers(52) 
			  Mid-year household estimates(53) (thousand) Total As a percentage of all households Total As a percentage of all households Total (number of persons) 
		
		
			 199798 40 84 0.21 39 0.10  
			 199899 40 94 0.24 61 0.15 0 
			 19992000 41 92 0.22 103 0.25 0 
			 200001 41 88 0.21 108 0.26 0 
			 200102 40 104 0.26 116 0.29 0 
			 200203 41 200 0.49 92 0.22 0 
			 200304 41 299 0.73 73 0.18 6 
		
	
	(49)Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category. Figures provided are for the financial year (ie April-March).
	(50)ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly).
	(51)Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting re-allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Excludes those households designated as homeless at home that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(52)ODPM Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual). Data not collected prior to 1998.
	(53)Estimated as at 30 June each year. ODPM.
	Information is also collected, since 1998, on the number of people who sleep rough, that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. The above table shows number of persons sleeping rough in Shrewsbury and Atcham district, on a single night.
	Quarterly Statistical Releases on statutory homelessness published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister include information on decisions, and households in temporary accommodation, at local authority level in an associated supplementary table. The latest release, of 14 March, and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

Housing

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much Housing Corporation (a) Approved Development Programme funding and (b) Challenge funding was spent on (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii)Homebuy general market purchase, (iv) Homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to RSL stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii)works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix)works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x)intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) Homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii) Homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) Starter Home Initiative in the South West region in each year since 199798;
	(2)  how many affordable housing units were built or procured through the Housing Corporation (a) Approved Development Programme and (b) Challenge Fund, broken down by (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing. (iii) Homebuy general market purchase, (iv)Homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to RSL stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) Homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii)Homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) Starter Home Initiative in each year since 199798 in the South West region.

Keith Hill: The information available on the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme has been made available in the Library of the House. There has been no Challenge funding available in the South West region.

Housing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the provision of affordable homes in the Vale of York.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's recently published Five Year Plan, 'Sustainable Communities: Homes for All' set out our proposals for housing, including expenditure plans for the next two years, in the context of our longer term Sustainable Communities Plan. This takes a co-ordinated approach to the provision of affordable housing, including not only additional financial resourcesexpenditure of 2billion in 200708, more than double the 1997 level, for new social rented housing and home ownership initiatives, plus more for PFIas well as changes to the planning system so that it can help authorities deliver more affordable housing. All these policies apply fully to rural areas, where we are committed to addressing housing needs and have already more than doubled the provision of affordable housing in small settlements funded through the Housing Corporation.
	The provision of affordable housing in high demand areas, including rural areas and market towns, is one of the priorities identified in the current Regional Housing Strategy for Yorkshire and the Humber and its accompanying Investment Framework. The Regional Housing Board's current two year investment plan for affordable housing delivered by the Housing Corporation includes 45 dwellings in the Vale of York. The board is also helping to fund the extra care housing scheme at Easingwold, Hambleton district council's Young Single Homeless scheme and affordable housing initiatives in the 'Golden Triangle' high demand, high price area including north Leeds, Harrogate and York. These priorities continue into the board's revised draft strategy, which is currently out for consultation. Sub-regional housing partnerships are currently working on their investment proposals for 200608 for submission to the board and subsequent approval by me later this year, and I would expect to see them appropriately reflect the needs of the Vale of York. Recently completed research into 'Rural Housing in the Yorkshire and Humber Region' for the Housing Corporation and the Countryside Agency will help in addressing rural housing needs.
	However, it is important to make full use of all opportunities to provide additional affordable housing where it is needed. There are already good achievements by Vale of York authorities in using the planning system to deliver affordable housing, and I hope that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's recent changes to Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 will help them to do more. I was also pleased to recently give approval to North Yorkshire county council to implement an affordable housing scheme using their share of the proceeds from the flexibility that we gave local authorities to reduce the council tax discount for second homes. The first phase comprises a proposed county-wide programme with an investment of almost 12 million, including 15 dwellings in the Vale of York.

Housing Market Renewal Areas

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 579W, on housing market renewal areas, what specific targets the Government has agreed with the Merseyside pathfinder in relation to housing market renewal in the Welsh Streets of Liverpool.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not agreed with New Heartlands, the Merseyside pathfinder, targets in respect of housing market renewal specifically in relation to the Welsh Streets of Liverpool.

Parish Councils

Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to change the number of parish councils.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policy is to create new parishes, as we consider appropriate, where this is recommended in reviews of parish arrangements undertaken by a district council or requested in a petition of local electors. In 2004 23 new parish councils were created.

Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to implement sections (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4, (e) 5, (f) 6, (g) 7, (h) 8, (i) 9, (j) 10 and (k) 11 of the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004, which amend or add to provisions in the Building Act 1984, will be used as appropriate to make regulations to improve the sustainability and security of buildings. All proposals for regulations will be subject to full public consultation and a full regulatory impact assessment.
	Section 6 of the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 requires a biennial report on the progress of sustainability in the building stock in England and Wales to be presented to Parliament. The first report must be presented by 16 November 2006. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently establishing baselines for this report.
	Sections 10 and 11 of the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 do not require implementation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional resource commitments he plans to make to deliver the improvements in (a) monitoring and data capacity on climate change in Africa, (b) scientific collaboration to enhance the development process and (c) the integration of climate information and science into development, as set out in his Department's joint report on Climate Proofing Africa, published on 22 March.

Hilary Benn: DFID is committed to helping Africa adapt to climate change by improving climate monitoring networks and strengthening capacity to management climate risks to development including in disaster prevention.
	DFID believes a concerted international response is the best way of providing effective assistance and are seeking a joint commitment from the G8 countries under the Climate Change pillar of the Government's G8 Presidency. To that end, the Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I raised these matters on the agenda of the recent G8 Environment and Development Ministers meeting. I am pleased to say that Ministers agreed on the urgency of the problem and committed, in principle, to help build scientific capacity and integrate measures to address climate change in development assistance and national development plans. We will be working to agree specific practical measures at the G8 Heads of Government meeting at Gleneagles. In that context, we are currently considering additional UK resource commitments.
	Details of the outcome paper from the meeting entitled 'G8 Environment and Development Ministerial, 18 March 2005', is available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Africa

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many permanent staff from his Department are stationed in (a) Sierra Leone, (b) Nigeria, (c) Angola, (d) Namibia, (e) Malawi, (f) Zambia, (g) Tanzania, (h) Kenya, (i) Uganda and (j) Ethiopia; and what changes have taken place in (i) the deployment of staff and (ii) the levels of expenditure by his Department in these countries in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: Numbers of permanent staff by country were as follows. Figures include UK-based staff, staff appointed in country and some permanent staff seconded to other organisations in country.
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Angola  3 3 
			 Ethiopia (54)17 (54)36 46 
			 Kenya 43.5 43.5 42.75 
			 Malawi 24 42 59 
			 Namibia 4 4 2 
			 Nigeria 71 71 81 
			 Sierra Leone (54)8.5 (54)10.25 (54)11.75 
			 Tanzania 36 44 48 
			 Uganda 44 46 52 
			 Zambia (54)2 34 34 
		
	
	(54)For these years, DFID staff were based in British embassies/high commissions, preceding the opening of DFID offices.
	Total DFID spending by country, for the last three completed financial years, was as follows:
	
		 million
		
			  200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Angola 3.6 9.9 7.8 
			 Ethiopia 11.8 42.7 43.3 
			 Kenya 27.5 44.5 25.8 
			 Malawi 46.6 52.3 54.8 
			 Namibia 2.0 2.2 1.4 
			 Nigeria 20.9 30.5 31.2 
			 Sierra Leone 37.1 32.4 34.3 
			 Tanzania 65.0 95.9 80.5 
			 Uganda 68.5 54.9 56.0 
			 Zambia 44.8 41.4 28.4

Africa

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many visits have been undertaken by staff from his Department to (a) Sierra Leone, (b) Nigeria, (c) Angola, (d) Namibia, (e) Malawi, (f) Zambia, (g) Tanzania, (h) Kenya, (i) Uganda and (j) Ethiopia in each of the last three years; and for what purpose, in each case.

Hilary Benn: Visits to these countries are a frequent and routine aspect of programme management and administrative support to DFID overseas offices. Visits include those from Ministers and senior officials, project and programme design missions, policy and technical advisers, missions to assist in the monitoring and evaluation of DFID programmes, and support to the management and running of DFID in-country offices in areas such as staff training, audit and accounts, estates management and communications. To obtain the information requested would incur a disproportionate cost.

Africa

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment the Commission for Africa made of the economic and environmental sustainability of uranium exports from African countries.

Hilary Benn: No specific assessment was made of the economic and environmental sustainability of uranium exports from African countries in the Commission for Africa's work.

Angola

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of the discussions between the International Monetary Fund and the Government of Angola concerning budgetary control and transparency of taxation; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Bretton Woods institutions confirm that most areas of off-budget spending in Angola decreased in 2004. However, much more progress has to be made to eradicate this practice completely. The next mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Angola is expected in early April. The purpose of this mission is to conclude negotiations on the start of a Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) which will, among other things, focus on bringing all revenue and expenditure into the annual budget process in a transparent fashion. Fiscal discipline is another area which the Ministry of Finance itself has identified as a national priority. DFID, working together with the World Bank, is planning to fund a training programme in budgetary processes including fiscal discipline for line ministry staff at both the central and provincial levels.
	As regards transparency of oil revenues, including taxes from the oil industry, Angola has taken several significant steps forward. These include full annual financial audits of Sonangol, the state oil company, and publication of up-to-date oil revenues by production blocks on the website of the Ministry of Finance. The UK continues actively to encourage the Government of Angola to make progress on the remaining components of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). One other important issue which the IMF will be raising during its forthcoming mission is how the Government intends to use the windfall resulting from higher than expected oil prices. The first step will be to declare how much additional revenue has accrued and then to ensure that these funds are incorporated transparently into the annual budget system.

Angola

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was disbursed to Angola by the UK in 200405; what aid is planned for 200506; and what projects will be the major recipients of that aid.

Hilary Benn: DFID's programme to Angola amounted to some 8 million in 200405. 8.6 million has been allocated for the Angola programme in 200506. This will focus on the key areas of consolidation of peace, relief and recovery, democratisation and economic reform, poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS. Projects currently being funded are:
	Consolidation of peace (0.3 million)
	Integrated Regional Information Networks Radio Soap Opera
	Christian Aid Civil Society Peacebuilding
	Centre for Common Groundpeace-building media programme
	ACCORD Conflict and Vulnerability Assessment
	Relief and recovery (1.2 million)
	OxfamWater and Sanitation project (0.1 million)
	World Food Programmerebuilding of bridges (1.05 million)
	Economic reform and poverty reduction (2.9 million)
	One World ActionLand Reform Seminars/Workshops (0.1 million)
	World BankTrust Fund for Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (0.25 million)
	Luanda Urban Poverty Programme (2.6 million)
	HIV/AIDS (1.68 million)
	BBC World Service Trustpromoting HIV/AIDS awareness through media (0.5 million)
	UN AIDSAssistance to the National Aids Commission (0.08 million)
	Population Services InternationalCondom Social Marketing (0.8 million)
	GOALVoluntary Counselling and Testing (0.3 million)
	We are currently considering funding for further projects in the above-mentioned areas of focus.

Cambodia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government has provided to the Government of Cambodia in removing landmines.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID supports a sizeable programme of global mine action, including direct funding of mine clearance. DFID provides funding for global action to the United Nations Mine Action Service, the United Nations Development Programme and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.
	In Cambodia, in the past three years, DFID has provided more than 1 million to support the mine clearance efforts of the HALO Trust and the Mines Advisory Group, and some 500,000 to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre for demining projects. We recently approved a further grant to the Mines Advisory Group of 378,156 for technical survey work and are considering further funding support to the HALO Trust and Cambodian Mine Action Centre.

Correspondence

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington dated 5 January 2005 about his constituent Catriona Roussel.

Hilary Benn: The right hon. Member's letter of 2 February 2005 on behalf of Catriona Roussel was originally sent to the Foreign Secretary for reply and passed to me on 1 March. A reply was issued on 31 March.

Cuba

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had with members and representatives of the Government of (i) the United States of America and (ii) Cuba regarding tying Cuba's humanitarian assistance to South and Central American countries into a multilateral approach to humanitarian aid between the EU, the US and Cuba; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has had no recent discussions with either the Cuban or US Government concerning Cuban humanitarian assistance to South and Central American countries, nor a multilateral approach to humanitarian aid between Cuba and the EU and US. Representatives of HMG have had wide-ranging discussions with the Cuban authorities, including on their relations with South and Central American countries. Cuba provides technical assistance to a number of countries in the region, most notably Venezuela, but no assessment of its effectiveness has been shared by the Cuban Government or been made independently. Following Hurricane Ivan DFID contributed 50,000 to Cuba through the Regional Appeal of the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Regional Appeal included the provision of shelter and non-food relief for affected families.

Darfur

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the role of livestock in the rebuilding of the rural economy of Darfur, with particular reference to working animals.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 24 March 2005
	Animal husbandry is dominant in the rural economy of much of Darfur. Animals are raised for sale outside the state, traded and consumed locally, used as beasts of burden and, less frequently, to provide traction for farm equipment. So livestock is central to prospects for economic recovery in the state.
	In Darfur, DFID support includes 1 million to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), who provide veterinarian support for livestock. This includes the provision of feed and health care to donkeys, small ruminants, and chickens both in camps and outside. In addition the programme includes provision for the training of community animal health monitors. We are continuing DFID support of these projects into the next financial year 200506 through a $4.5 million (approximately 2.3 million) contribution to the FAO under the UN Workplan.
	However, before there can be any economic progress in Darfur, either livestock-based or otherwise, there will need to be an end to the conflict. The crisis in Darfur is caused by the conflict between the Darfur rebels and the Sudanese Government and can end only through a political, negotiated settlement in line with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January this year.
	The UK is pressing all parties to abide and implement the ceasefire and humanitarian and security protocols which they have signed, and is supporting the on-going African Union-mediated Abuja Peace Talks. DFID has also provided 14 million in support to the African Union observer mission that is there to monitor the ceasefire agreement.

Darfur

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UN's current estimate is of the level of unmet requirements for its work on emergency assistance for agriculture and livestock in Greater Darfur.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The latest UN's Humanitarian Needs Profile covers a conflict affected population of 2.1 million people and indicates that 93 per cent. of this population is not receiving assistance for agriculture and livestock.
	This gap is explained by the fact that funding is prioritised against immediate needs such as food, water, primary health care, and sanitation. In Darfur, assistance towards medium-term concerns is compromised by the scale of emergency needs and the degree of armed insecurity on the ground.
	The poor security situation hampers access to arable land and progress on community development programmes. These include agricultural and livestock assistance. The situation is further exacerbated by the onset of severe drought in the region, with the most immediate concern being the provision of food.
	To this end, of the 70 million in humanitarian assistance that the UK is providing to Sudan for the financial year 200506, 40 million is being channelled through the UN Workplan which is being disbursed based on recommendations by the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Sudan. 59 per cent. of the Workplan is for food aid in Darfur.
	In the long-term, it is only through a political process to which both sides are committed that the situation in Darfur can be resolved and crucial assistance given towards key needs, including the re-development of agriculture and livestock.

Darfur

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assurances he sought from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that they were capable of implementing the project proposals outlined in Emergency Assistance (agriculture and livestock) to vulnerable households in the Greater Darfur region of Sudan before awarding a grant for this work; and what steps he has taken to ensure the aid reaches the intended beneficiaries;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether (a) veterinary equipment, (b) medicine and vaccines and (c) food and fodder detailed in the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation project documentation has been (i) purchased and (ii) applied where it was required.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) undertakes the implementation of its Emergency Assistance Programme through International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). The FAO has been in Darfur for four years, but has worked previously with its implementing partners in other areas of Sudan. As such they have built up a good professional relationship based on mutual trust and responsibility. From previous reporting by the UN, as well as from my officials following monitoring visits and discussions within Sudan, I have confidence in the FAO's capability to implement their project proposals in this very difficult environment.
	The UK has already funded the FAO project 'Emergency Assistance (Agriculture and Livestock)' with a contribution of 1 million (200405). This was agreed on the basis of in-depth dialogue with the FAO in Sudan. DFID has supplemented this with an additional contribution of $4.5million (2.3 million) to the FAO, as part of DFID's contributions to the UN Workplan. Timely disbursements of funds are of especial importance to the FAO, as it needs to plan ahead so it has inputs available at the key points in the agricultural calendar.
	This year DFID is piloting in Sudan some of the reforms to the International System that I have proposed on humanitarian reform supported by the Organisation for Co-ordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), notably empowering the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator (UNHC). The aim is for the UNHC to take the lead on responsibility for needs assessments, planning, and resource allocation. DFID funding to UN agencies this year is being channelled through the UNHC who is responsible for allocating funds to UN agencies against priority needs. This most recent FAO contribution from-DFID (of $4.5million) forms part of his prioritised allocations for the first tranche of money (14 million) we have made available.
	In the Emergency Assistance project cereal seed is being procured locally (59.5 metric tons), some of which has already been delivered. The FAO is responsible for delivering the seed to the three regional capitals of the Darfur region where it is handed over to the INGOs. INGOs have identified a number of specific vulnerable groups totalling 261,000 families who have access to land at the moment. This equates to over 1,000,000 direct beneficiaries. These INGOs are then responsible for delivering directly to the families.
	Overall monitoring and evaluation is the responsibility of the FAO who have to ensure appropriate performance of their implementing INGO partners. Co-ordination of these activities is carried out by the Food Security Co-ordination meeting, which is held bi-weekly in each of the Darfur regional capitals. The FAO will be reporting on their performance this year to both DFID and the UNHC. In addition, through DFID's humanitarian and livelihoods advisers in Khartoum and London, we will be undertaking monitoring of this programme during the course of this year.
	The FAO has stressed that there still remains a considerable shortfall in the amount of seed required (855MT), but there still remains sufficient time to purchase and distribute as the rains will not be expected until a further two months.
	Veterinary Equipment:
	This has been purchased in Sudan and distributed to the three Darfur capitals. The equipment is dispatched to the INGOs who then distribute it to selected Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW). This cadre of staff has been selected by the community and trained by the INGOs. They are paid a small stipend by the INGO which is reimbursed by the FAO. Again, all activities are monitored and evaluated by the INGOs. Pertinent issues can and are raised in community dialogue in formal and informal manner.
	Medicine/Vaccine:
	These have been purchased in Khartoum and distributed through the same mechanism as above.
	Food/Fodder:
	A supplementary feed (concentrate pellets) for feeding is purchased in Sudan. Again, this is distributed by the INGOs direct to the beneficiaries with monitoring carried out by the CAHW.
	The FAO has a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with each of its INGOs to purchase fodder in the local market. The implementing partner then agrees a sub-contract with a private contractor to deliver the fodder to them, which is then distributed direct to the beneficiaries and again monitored by the CAHW. This component is strongly linked to issues on protection. Women are usually required to go out and gather fodder, but have been subject to rape and violence when moving outside of camps. This intervention will help to minimise the risk.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to assist rural populations living in and depending on the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo to obtain security of land tenure.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) is not currently providing direct support to rural populations living in the forest areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However natural resource management has been identified in our country engagement plan as one of the key areas of possible future UK support to the DRC. We are developing a DRC natural resources strategy, due later this year, which will indicate the nature of any likely support, including the forestry sector amongst others. DFID also keeps in regular touch with the World Bank and non-governmental organisations on forestry issues in the DRC.
	DFID is also funding a review of the management of natural resource extraction in the DRC, to help in the establishment of more transparent means of natural resource management in the future for the benefit of the Congolese people.

Fair Trade

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the Government have taken to encourage the adoption of fair trade rules by (a) the European Union, (b) the World Bank, (c) the IMF and (d) other international bodies.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are fully committed to a framework of rules for world trade that is fair as well as free, that works in the interests of the world's poor, and provides developing countries the opportunity to trade themselves out of poverty. This can only be achieved through the multilateral system, particularly the world trade organisations (WTO) and the current round of negotiations, the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
	DFID is working with its partners in the EU to press for a successful outcome to the Doha round and to ensure impact of the EU's trade policies on developing countries is taken into account. For example during negotiations between the EU and African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries over Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) we are working to ensure EPAs are designed to deliver long-term development, economic growth and poverty reduction in ACP countries. The UK Government also works closely with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international bodies such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to ensure developing countries receive support to engage in trade negotiations and integrate progressively into the global trading system.

Rwanda

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent to which Rwanda's new land policy safeguards the livelihoods of the rural poor; what assessment he has made of its likely impact on security in the country; and if he will make a statement on how the UK will engage with Rwanda on the issue of land reform.

Hilary Benn: Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa with 90 per cent. of a population of over 8 million people earning their livelihoods from the land. Most families operate at the level of subsistence agriculture, producing almost entirely for their own consumption. Tenure of some 90 per cent. of the arable land in Rwanda is currently based upon customary rights, with no formal written title. Rwanda faces the challenge of trying to promote economic growth and reduce poverty in an economy largely dependent upon unsustainable, low productivity subsistence agriculture, while at the same time addressing a historical legacy of land disputes in the interests of national reconciliation.
	Rwanda's Draft National Land Policy (June 2004) has the overall objective
	to establish a land tenure system that guarantees tenure security for all Rwandans and give guidance to the necessary land reforms with a view to good management and rational use of national land resources
	Safeguards for the Livelihoods of the Rural Poor
	The draft policy and land law include provisions that contribute to safeguarding the livelihoods of the poor in the following areas:
	Prohibition of any discrimination in land ownership or rights
	Preservation of existing land rights
	Limiting to an absence of 10 years on the right of refugees to claim back previously owned land now occupied by others
	Assertion that water is a public good to which everybody has access
	Provision of a land reserve, for allocation to landless people
	Local consultation for all proposed schemes for plot consolidation and compensation either financially or in kind where appropriate
	Administration of land belonging to genocide orphans under 18 years of age on their behalf until they come of age, and assistance to vulnerable orphans above 18 and widows in developing their land.
	However, the draft land law gives the government and its officials considerable administrative powers in order to achieve its policy objectives. Protecting the livelihoods of the rural poor will depend upon the way in which these powers are exercised.
	Likely impact upon security in Rwanda
	A lack of consistent policy and an absence of procedure for dealing with land was a contributory factor in the conflict in Rwanda that culminated in the genocide in 1994. The land reforms seek to remedy this and hopefully make an important contribution to achieving long-term peace and security in Rwanda.
	How the UK will engage with Rwanda on the issue of land reform
	DFID has been providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Land in Rwanda since August 2002 and supported the development of the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation in Rwanda. From this engagement we judge that the Government of Rwanda are sincere in their intentions of taking forward land reform in the best interests of all Rwandan people. The Government have noted that the land reform process will take at least 10 years and that the procedures envisaged in the policy and law will need to be carefully tested before they are implemented across the country.
	DFID's Rwanda programme is planning to provide support to produce a road map for the implementation of the land reform proposals. The support will focus on consultation with those affected by the land reform proposals; will test approaches to land reform based upon local priorities and provide the required, structured training for the Ministry of Land and other key Government of Rwanda staff involved in land reform.

Rwanda

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what total aid budget to Rwanda is planned for 200506.

Hilary Benn: The total UK aid budget for Rwanda for 200506 is 47 million.
	Of this, 31 million will be transferred to the Government of Rwanda as Poverty Reduction Budget Support to enable Rwanda to meet the costs of implementing policies and programmes under Rwanda's Poverty Reduction Strategy.
	Working in co-ordination with other donors in response to specific needs of the Government of Rwanda as set out in the DFID Country Assistance Plan for Rwanda, the remaining 16 million of the total UK commitment to Rwanda for 200506 will be provided in the form of projects and programmes. These will provide targeted technical assistance for capacity building activities in Government of Rwanda Ministries and other bodies. UK funded technical assistance in 200506 will focus support in the following areas: education; social protection (including support to genocide survivors); improving gender equity in public policy; land reform; civil service reform; support to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and public financial management.
	In addition to our bilateral commitment to Rwanda, the UK has contributed an estimated 5.8 million to planned European Commission development programmes Rwanda for 2005.

Shipping Lines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's spending was in each of the last two years with the shipping lines (a) PO, (b) Nippin Yusen Kaisha, (c) Mitsui Osaka Shosen Kaisha, (d) Orient Overseas Container Line and (e) Mediterranean Shipping Corporation.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not made any direct payment to the shipping lines cited. All of DFID's shipping needs are met by specialised freight handling companies who we pay directly. We do not require these companies to maintain a central report of payments made to individual shipping lines and this information could be obtained only by incurring a disproportionate cost.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department sold any surplus stock on the eBay auction website, in each year since 200001.

Hilary Benn: No surplus stocks of assets have been sold by DFID on eBay.

Surplus Assets Sales

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the value of sales of surplus assets from his Department was in each year since 200001.

Hilary Benn: The value of sales of surplus assets by DFID is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Value of sales () 
		
		
			 200001 28,000 
			 200102 109,264 
			 200203 28,828 
			 200304 106,685 
			 200405 (55)76,860 
		
	
	(55)Year to date figure.
	This information is included in departmental Resource Accounts, copies of which are normally available in the Library.

Technical/Logistical Expertise (Information Exchange)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what channels are available for the exchange of (a) technical and (b) logistical expertise between his Department and UK non-governmental organisations active in the field of international development; what fora his Department has (i) initiated, (ii) funded and (iii) run for such purposes since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID consults extensively with NGOs on both policy and technical issues. We do this through a variety of channels including ministerial and official meetings with the British Overseas Aid Group (BOAG), British Overseas NGOs for Development network (BOND), regional visits and bilateral meetings.
	DFID endeavours to carry out public consultations as recommended in the Code of Practice on Consultations published by the Cabinet Office in January 2004. When consulting NGOs, this guidance is used in conjunction with the 'Compact' between the government and the voluntary and community sector which includes a specific code of good practice on 'Consultation and Policy Appraisal'.
	DFID has funded the British Overseas NGOs for Development network (BOND) since 1993 when it was established as a membership organisation. It now represents over 280 international development NGOs
	Since 1997, there has been a great deal of consultation through a variety of ad hoc fora but no central record is held.. This information could be obtained only by incurring a disproportionate cost.

Technology Transfers

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the technology transfers effected by his Department in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: DFID funds research which generates a wide range of new or improved agricultural and other technologies, which are transferred to farmers and users in developing countries. These transfers occur over a period of years, rather than in a single year. Recent examples include the use of animal traction techniques for improved efficiency (Bolivia, Kenya and Zimbabwe) and seed priming on farms (soaking seeds in water before sowing) for improved crop establishment and higher yields (25 countries).
	Further information on DFID's research programmes is available on the DFID website: www.dfid.gov.uk. Details of natural resources and infrastructure research and technology projects are included on two databases: www.narsis.org and www.infrastructureconnect.info.

World Bank

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which candidate the Government plan to support for the Presidency of the World Bank.

Hilary Benn: The broad support of the membership, including from developing country clients of the Bank group will be very important in taking their work forward.
	The Government have noted Mr. Wolfowitz's nomination with interest. He is very distinguished and experienced internationally. There is of course a process that has to be gone through in which the views of developing countries are important. It is the Bank's board which makes the decision, and it is important that this is a transparent process. The UK Government are interested in Mr. Wolfowitz's vision for the future of the World Bank in reducing international poverty at a time when the need to make much faster progress has never been clearer.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Training Review

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list with a short biography the inspectors who took part in the Adult Learning Inspectorate Safer Training review into armed forces training.

Adam Ingram: In May 2004 1 commissioned the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) to conduct an independent and searching review of the way the armed forces train our personnel. Their report was published on 21 March 2005. I am grateful for the work of the Chief Inspector of Adult Learning for England and his inspection teams in undertaking this comprehensive and very detailed survey of Defence initial training. I am, however, unable to provide the names and biographical details of the inspectors requested, as it is my Department's policy in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 not to release such information into the public domain as this might contribute to or facilitate an unwelcome invasion of their privacy.

British Nuclear Deterrent

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to remove the British nuclear deterrent from the Clyde.

Geoff Hoon: We have no plans to change basing policy for the UK's nuclear deterrent force.

British Nuclear Deterrent

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rule out the acquisition of battlefield nuclear weapons for use by British forces.

Geoff Hoon: Battlefield nuclear weapons are not required by the Government's policy on nuclear deterrence.

British Nuclear Deterrent

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rule out the use of UK nuclear weapons on a first strike basis.

Geoff Hoon: The United Kingdom Government would be prepared to use nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence. We would not use our weapons, whether conventional or nuclear, contrary to international law.
	A policy of no first use of nuclear weapons would be incompatible with our and NATO's doctrine of deterrence, nor would it further nuclear disarmament objectives. We have made clear, as have our NATO allies, that the circumstances in which any use of nuclear weapons might have to be contemplated are extremely remote. Our overall strategy is to ensure uncertainty in the mind of any aggressor about the exact nature of our response, and thus to maintain effective deterrence.

Camouflage Garments

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many camouflage combat garments have been supplied by the factory in China under the cut and sew contract; and what the timetable for the delivery of all camouflage garments under the contract is.

Adam Ingram: To date a total of over 100,000 items have now been delivered by the cut and sew prime contractor, this includes over 40,000 items of combat clothing. Under this Enabling Arrangement, the contract delivery schedule is agreed on each Warrant as it is issued.

Coalition Forces (Iraq)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an up to date list of the countries providing troops to the coalition forces in Iraq and how many troops each country provides.

Adam Ingram: In early March 2005, the United Kingdom had 7,961 personnel deployed in Iraq.
	The number of personnel per troop contributing nation is a matter for individual countries. Open source figures provided by those countries, as at early March 2005, are as follows.
	
		
			 Countries Troops 
		
		
			 Albania 74 
			 Armenia 46 
			 Australia 312 
			 Azerbaijan 154 
			 Bulgaria 495 
			 Czech Republic 92 
			 Denmark 485 
			 El Salvador 380 
			 Estonia 47 
			 Georgia 159 
			 Italy 3,033 
			 Japan 536 
			 Kazakhstan 29 
			 Lithuania 131 
			 Latvia 117 
			 Macedonia 34 
			 Mongolia 130 
			 Poland 2,400 
			 Romania 727 
			 Slovakia 105 
			 South Korea 3,700 
			 Ukraine 1,449 
			 United States 140,000 
		
	
	Norway and Portugal retain nine and two staff officers respectively.

Contracts (Rolls-Royce)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of each of his Department's contracts with the Rolls Royce Group was in each year since 1997.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Deaths in Service

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the full coroner's inquest will be held into the death of Paul Justin Connolly at Shaibah Logistics Base, Iraq on 26 December 2004.

Adam Ingram: These arrangements are a matter for HM Coroner in line with the coroners' system in England and Wales.

Defence Estate

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average rent charged by his Department to farmers for land was per hectare in each county in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not own land in every county in the United Kingdom and thus does not record or retain information on that basis. Land is held for purposes of military training and is made available without detriment to such training. Rent is set according to the conditions with which the Department is content to let the land, and this therefore becomes the market rent for that land taking into consideration these conditions. To provide the information requested, given that it is not held for defence purposes, would require disproportionate cost and effort.

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Eurofighter

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many UK jobs have been created by the supplementary order for Eurofighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Industry estimate that the Typhoon Tranche 2 order will, at the peak of manufacture, create or sustain some 16,000 jobs with United Kingdom defence manufacturers, many in areas of high technology, plus a significant number of jobs in supporting industries across the economy more widely.

Flight Refuelling (Brize Norton)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the change of responsibilities for the flight refuelling fleet at Brize Norton.

Adam Ingram: There has been no change of responsibilities for the air-to-air refuelling fleet at RAF Brize Norton.

Gulf War Veterans

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Gulf War veterans have committed suicide;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of how many Gulf War veterans have committed suicide in prison.

Ivor Caplin: As at 31 December 2004, there had been 120 deaths due to intentional self-harm and events of undetermined intent (suicides and open verdict deaths) among veterans of the 199091 Gulf Conflict, compared with an estimate of 112 in the comparison group of Service personnel who did not deploy.
	From the information available to the Defence Analytical Services Agency, of the 120 deaths, the number where the recorded place of death is stated as a HM Prison is less than five; it is not appropriate to give the precise number for these events for reasons of confidentiality. In a number of the 120 cases, the place of death is not apparent.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons arrested by British service personnel in Iraq have been in custody for over a year without charges having been brought against them.

Adam Ingram: Two internees originally taken into custody by the United Kingdom have been held for more than a year. Both are held at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility in Basrah Province. They were interned on the basis that they represented an imperative threat to security and not on the basis that they were suspected of any specific criminal offence.

Medals

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of paper records of medals issued to First World War combatants; what electronic records are kept of these medals; whether those records contain all the information contained in the paper records; and what arrangements he is making to ensure that records of these medals are not lost.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence, together with The National Archives, has been actively seeking to identify a suitable institution prepared to take these cards. So far, a home for just a small part of the collection has been found. No decision on the retention or destruction of the cards will be taken until all such avenues have been explored.
	However, the information from the front of the First World War medal index cards is already preserved in a microfilmed format and is available to researchers at The National Archives (in Class WO 372) and through the National Archives website online.
	During microfilming the reverse side of the cards was not copied as the vast majority of them are blank. Sampling found that information on the reverse is restricted to about 1 per cent. of the cards.

Northern Ireland (Royal Navy)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Naval vessels are assigned to duties in Northern Ireland for 200405; and how many Royal Naval vessels are planned to be assigned to duties in Northern Ireland in each of the next five years.

Adam Ingram: The Northern Ireland Patrol Vessel (NIPV) Squadron comprises three re-roled Hunt Class Mine Counter-Measure Vessels (HMS Brecon, HMS Dulverton and HMS Cottesmore) with one ship usually on station at any given time. I announced on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 69WS, that we have decided that the vessels will be decommissioned in September 2005. While there will be no permanent assignments of Royal Navy vessels for Northern Ireland following their release by the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, the Chief Constable is satisfied that routine Royal Navy activities around the UK and specific intelligence-led maritime operations will deliver an appropriate level of support to the police in countering terrorism.

Northern Ireland (Royal Navy)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what duties are performed by (a) land-based Royal Naval personnel and (b) ship-based Royal Naval personnel based in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to change the numbers of each category.

Adam Ingram: Royal Navy (RN) personnel provide a Naval Intelligence unit within Headquarters Northern Ireland and administration of HMS Caroline (a Royal Naval Reserve establishment). RN personnel also crew the Northern Ireland Patrol Vessel (NIPV) Squadron, with one ship usually on station at any one time. I announced on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 69WS, that we have decided that the NIPV vessels will be decommissioned in September 2005 releasing the crews for other duties. The removal of the NIPV may also result in changes in the number of land-based RN personnel.

Nuclear Test Veterans

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will carry out a study of the health of veterans of the British Nuclear Test Programme.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 22 March 2005
	A study into the general health of Nuclear Test Veterans would involve major practical and methodological difficulties. Such a study would necessitate individual contact with participants in the study or their GPs. Not only would this be a very large exercise to organise and undertake successfully, but there would also be considerable risk of bias arising from the difficulties of identifying, contacting and recovering responses from a fully representative sample of veterans or their dependants.
	The Government do not therefore intend to institute such a study.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, reference 200301.

Adam Ingram: I replied to the hon. Member on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 128W.

Penalties (Contractors)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on operating penalties on contractors who fail to deliver on contracts due to (a) quality and (b) time.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not include penalty clauses in its contracts as they are not generally enforceable under English or Scottish law.
	Most Ministry of Defence contracts contain expressquality provisions and performance criteria, occasionally associated with differential pricing or liquidated damages. The Ministry of Defence has the right to reject goods and services which do not conform to the contract specification and to require the supply of satisfactory replacements. This right is exercised in appropriate circumstances and the failure to achieve a satisfactory supply within the contracted time scales could lead to invoking liquidated damages provisions or termination of the contract.

RAF Menwith Hill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is made in the contract between his Department and the US authorities for the continuing use of RAF Menwith Hill.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 March 2005
	There is no such contract. RAF Menwith Hill is made available to the United States Visiting Force under the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, and other confidential arrangements.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies will take place when the Kings, Lancashire and Border Regiment is formed.

Adam Ingram: As a result of the implementation of the future army structure there will be up to 335 commissioned officer and soldier redundancies across the infantry during 2006 and 2007.
	Commissioned infantry officers have already received letters if they fall into the relevant redundancy categories and have until 5 May 2005 to lodge an expression of interest. Infantry soldiers in the relevant redundancy categories will receive letters around the turn of the year. Planned dates for notifying those officers and soldiers selected for redundancy are 8 July 2005 and 1 May 2006 respectively. Consequently, it is too early to speculate as to where the redundancies will fall in relation to individual regiments.
	Further information can be obtained from the relevant Defence Council Instruction (DCI Army 7/05), a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Regiments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many towns have granted freedom to (a) the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, (b) the King's Regiment and (c) the King's Own Borderers; and if he will list the (i) battle honours of each regiment and (ii) medals won by each regiment in the last 30 years.

Adam Ingram: The towns, cities and boroughs that have granted freedom to the King's Own Royal Border Regiment (KORBR), the King's Regiment (Kings) and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) are as follows:
	KORBR
	Appleby
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Carlisle
	Kendal
	Lancaster
	Whitehaven
	Workington
	Kings
	Liverpool
	Manchester
	Tameside
	QLR
	Blackburn
	Burnley
	Haslingdon (Rossendale)
	Hyndburn
	Pendle
	Preston
	The Fylde
	Warrington
	(Spandau, Berlin)
	Note:
	QLR is expected to receive the freedom of Chorley on 16 April 2005.
	Battle honours for all regiments are listed in the Army List Part 1, which is available in the Library of the House. Regiments with a long tradition and a history of amalgamation inherit many honours: KORBR have 179, Kings 183 and QLR188.
	The number of medals won by personnel in each of the KORBR, Kings and the QLR in the last 30 years runs into many thousands, details of which can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Navy

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 414W, on the Royal Navy, how many Royal Navy ships are in a state of readiness for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

Adam Ingram: There are 34 Royal Navy vessels currently in a state of readiness for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

Trident

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed a replacement for Trident with the Prime Minister.

Geoff Hoon: I routinely discuss a variety of matters with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. It is not our practice to divulge the details of such discussions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Exports (Chile)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list, for each year since 1997, the total number of arms export contracts agreed to Chile.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department is responsible for holding information on the licences we have issued, not on numbers of arms export contracts agreed. Since 1997 the Government have published an Annual Report on strategic export controls, and since 2004 also a Quarterly Report on strategic export controls, containing information on the total number of export licences issued to each destination and the goods summaries covered by those licences. The Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House, and the Quarterly Reports from the DTI Export Control Organisation website, www.dti.gov.uk/export.control.

Business Start-ups

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many business start-ups there have been in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 453,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2004, the highest number since the survey started in 1998.
	Barclays data show that there were 1,900 business start-ups in North East Lincolnshire Unitary Authority in 2003 and a further 1,300 in 2004.
	Barclays data show that there were 900 business start-ups in North Lincolnshire Unitary Authority in 2003 and a further 800 in 2004.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire Unitary Authorities are shown in the following table for 1997 to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in Autumn 2005.
	
		VAT registrations
		
			  North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire 
		
		
			 1997 320 350 
			 1998 320 325 
			 1999 325 330 
			 2000 320 345 
			 2001 330 315 
			 2002 325 375 
			 2003 365 385 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 19942003, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at: http://www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

Business Start-ups

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in Wimbledon since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 453,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2004, the highest number since the survey started in 1988.
	Barclays data show that there were 2,000 business start-ups in the London borough of Merton (which contains the constituency of Wimbledon) in 2003 and a further 2,500 in 2004. Data for London boroughs are not available for before 2003.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Wimbledon parliamentary constituency and the London borough of Merton are shown in the table for 1997 to 2003. Data for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		VAT registrations
		
			  Wimbledon Merton 
		
		
			 1997 530 750 
			 1998 625 840 
			 1999 510 730 
			 2000 580 765 
			 2001 485 680 
			 2002 455 640 
			 2003 480 710 
		
	
	Source: (except for Wimbledon parliamentary constituency):
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 19942003,
	Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at: http://www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Only 1.8 million out of 4 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

Catering Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants andguests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The information on the amount spent on entertainment lunches involving civil servants and working lunches is not available as requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for North West Hampshire of 27 October 2004, 7 December 2004, 5 January, 9 February and 3 March relating to labels on bottles.

Nigel Griffiths: I apologise for the delay in responding to the letters. I responded on 30 March.

Departmental Budget

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the most recent figures are for her Department's budget (a) in 200506 and (b) in each year for which projections have been made, broken down by budget sub-head.

Patricia Hewitt: The DTI Business Plan 200508 published in February 2005 sets out the Department's budget for the period 2005 to 2008 broken down by business plan objective.
	An electronic version of the Business Plan can be foundat: http://www.dti.gov.uk/about/dti-businessplan-200408.pdf

Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been funded by the Government on improving access to (a) the renewables obligation, (b) climate change levy exemption certificates and (c) renewables energy guarantees of origin for domestic consumers installing qualifying microgeneration technologies; what recommendations have been made from this work; what steps she is taking in the context of the current review of the renewables obligation to implement those recommendations; what additional work she intends to undertake further to improve access; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Through the Distributed Generation Coordinating Group (DGCG), the Government have funded a report by Jade Energy on the accrual of renewables obligation certificates (ROCs), levy exemption certificates (LECs) and renewable energy guarantees of origin (REGOs). The report, which was published in February 2005, addresses concerns on the part of the microgeneration community (which includes domestic consumers who install microgeneration technologies) about access to the benefits of these schemes. The report makes recommendations on bulk processing of applications, meter data provision and sell and buy back contracts as well as recommendations to streamline the schemes and make them more user-friendly. Jade Energy's report is available on the DGCG's website (www.distributed-generation. gov.uk).
	In the current review of the renewables obligation, the preliminary consultation addresses the issue of administrative arrangements for small generators and seeks views on a number of proposals with the potential to benefit microgenerators. In developing the Government's strategy on microgeneration, I will be assessing the usefulness of various measures including improving access to ROCs, LECs and REGOs, taking account of, among other things, the Jade Energy report.

Export Control Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library copies of written representations (a) made by her Department to and (b) received by her Department from (i)representatives from industry and (ii) others relating to the future of the Export Control Organisation and private sector involvement in delivering some of that organisation's services.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 14 March 2005
	The DTI has carried out no public consultation on the matter. I have received two written representations, (which are commercially sensitive.)

International Conference on Nuclear Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution her Department made to the International Conference on Nuclear Power for the 21st Century in Paris; and if she will place in the Library copies of relevant papers.

Mike O'Brien: None. The conference was organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency and hosted by the French Government. Information about the conference is available at www.parisnuclear2005.org/accueil.htm and www.iaea.org/.

Milford Haven (Liquefied Natural Gas Development)

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether the liquid natural gas tanker should be included in risk assessments for the liquid natural gas developments at Milford Haven; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Risk assessment for the LNG developments at Milford Haven does not fall within the planning vires of the Department for Trade and Industry. Hence I am told that prior to October 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no direct contact nor discussions with the organisations mentioned concerning risk assessment either with regard to LNG tankers, or any other part of the LNG developments at Milford Haven.

Milford Haven (Liquefied Natural Gas Development)

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions she had with (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, (c) Exxon Mobil and Petroplus, (d) the Department for Transport and (e) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister concerning risk assessments for the liquid natural gas developments at Milford Haven prior to October 2004; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions she had with Pembrokeshire county council on whether the liquid natural gas (LNG) tanker should be included in the risk assessment for the LNG developments in Milford Haven prior to October 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Risk assessment for the LNG developments at Milford Haven does not fall within theplanning vires of the Department of Trade and Industry. Hence I am told prior to October 2004, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no direct contact nor discussions with the organisations mentioned concerning risk assessment either with regard to LNG tankers, or any other part of the LNG developments at Milford Haven.

Minimum Wage (Leicester)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were found to be employing workers for less than the minimum wage in (a) Leicester and (b) England, in each year since the minimum wage was introduced; and how many (i) were fined and (ii) were forced to cease trading.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Inland Revenue did not start recording the information requested until April 2000.
	The number of cases identified by NMW teams based in England where non compliance of minimum wage was identified:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 1,505 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 1,345 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 1,476 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 1,660 
			 1 April 2004 to date 1,153 
		
	
	For these cases a total of 55 penalty notices have been issued throughout this period.
	A penalty notice may be issued where an employer fails to comply with an enforcement notice.
	The Leicester NMW team was formed in April 2002 and the number of cases identified where non compliance of NMW was identified is as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 38 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 83 
			 1 April 2004 to date 50 
		
	
	The Leicester team have not issued any penalty notices to date.
	We do not hold information on the number of employers who ceased trading.

Newspaper Supply Chain

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likelihood of passive selling of magazines following proposals by the Office of Fair Trading to change the way in which magazines are distributed in the UK;
	(2)  whether she has commissioned an independent assessment of the analysis by the Office of Fair Trading of the UK newspaper and supply chain;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the likely effect of passive selling on (a) the competitiveness of small independent newsagents and (b) consumer choice;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the proposals by the Office of Fair Trading to change the UK supply chain for newspapers and magazines on delivery charges to (a) small independent and (b) larger retailers;
	(5)  what assessment she has made of the impact on relevant organisations of the changes proposed by the Office of Fair Trading relating to the newspaper supply chain.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In response to industry requests, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has undertaken an informal consideration of the compatibility with competition law of agreements for distribution of newspapers and magazines. OFT's provisional opinion was announced on 23 February 2005 and a fuller draft advisory opinion will be published shortly for public consultation. The Government has no plans to commission any separate assessment of these issues which should be considered by the OFT as the UK's independent competition regulator. The OFT's opinion aims to help companies ensure that the arrangements they put in place for the distribution of their products are compatible with the law.

North Sea Oil

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) monetary value and (b) output in barrels was of North sea oil in each of the past five years.

Mike O'Brien: The latest relevant annual data published by my Department are for 2003. Assuming 7.5 barrels per tonne of oil, the information sought is as follows.
	
		UK continental shelf
		
			  (a) Sales of crude oil ( million) (b) Crude oil production (million barrels) 
		
		
			 1999 10,257 964.4 
			 2000 16,275 884.1 
			 2001 13,646 812.9 
			 2002 13,629 805.7 
			 2003 13,365 733.8

Nuclear Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from Ineos Chlor expressing an interest in funding a new nuclear power plant.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Pharmaceutical Products

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has discussed the recall of pharmaceutical products with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency as part of its consultation on the implementation of the general product safety directive.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 March 2005
	Yes.

Sellafield

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reliability of instruments used to measure plutonium levels in drums at Sellafield; and what the maximum factor of error is relative to the estimated level present which it is accepted can occur.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 March 2005
	Plants which handled plutonium waste drums at Sellafield operate under safety cases. These define the level of reliability required from instrument systems measuring the waste. Reliability varies according to the nature of the operations being conducted, but in all cases in instrument systems the required reliability levels. Both the safety cases and the substantiation process comply with industry standards and are subject to inspection by industry regulators.
	It is normal for safety cases to require instrument systems to add to the reported plutonium figures an allowance for reasonable measurement uncertainties. The margin by which the results are overestimated depends on the specifics of the particular instrument system and upon the physical properties of the waste within each drum. In some cases this margin can be a significant fraction of the reported figure.

Solar Photovoltaics

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether funding allocations for domestic and other small-scale solar photovoltaic installations under her Department's Major Demonstration Programme will continue until August;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to ensure that funding allocations for domestic solar photovoltaic installations under her Department's Major Demonstration Programme will continue from summer 2005.

Mike O'Brien: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her previously on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 76W.

Solar Photovoltaics

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the application for EU State Aid clearance was made for the 6 million solar photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme announced by her Department in September 2004.

Mike O'Brien: The application for State Aid clearance for the extension to the Major PV Demonstration Programme was made on 4 January 2005.

Wind Farms

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her most recent estimate is of the number of wild bird deaths from each wind farm; what advice she gives to wind farm operators to protect birds; and what assessment she has made of experience from wind farms in other countries in respect of the protection of birds from wind turbines.

Mike O'Brien: We do not have estimates for the number of wild bird deaths from each wind turbine in the UK. However, we are not aware of any UK wind farms that have been associated with substantial adverse impacts on birds. As part of the planning process for wind farms in the UK, developers have to provide environmental assessments of their proposals which consider impacts on a range of factors, including those related to birds. The assessments are considered by the nature conservation agencies (English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales) and are made available for public scrutiny so other organisations such as the RSPB and local bird clubs can offer comments on the suitability of wind farm locations. The DTI advises wind farm developers to make early contact with these organisations as part of their preparatory planning for wind farm projects.
	Experience from other countries shows that badly sited wind farms can have impacts on birds, for example, Altamont Pass in California where there is extensive wind development and also a high year-round raptor use which has led to high bird mortality rates. This should be kept in the context of the existing background bird mortality from collision with, for example, buildings and vehicles which is far greater.
	I understand that research from Denmark suggests that birds, by day or night, tend to change their flight route some 100200 metres before a turbine and so pass above it at a safe distance.

Wind Farms

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the area of onshore land which will be required to meet the Government's wind turbine programme.

Mike O'Brien: We have not made our own estimate of the area of onshore land required. That said, we note that the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), in a report dated November 2003, estimated that between 800 to 1,200 hectares across the UK would be used for foundations and access roads for onshore wind farms to meet the 2010 target.

Working Conditions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on changes to working conditions for employees since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 February 2005, Official Report, column 797W.

World Intellectual Property Organisation

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to support the formulation by the World Intellectual Property Organisation of (a) a development agenda and (b) measures to promote the transfer across the jurisdictions of material in formats accessible to disabled people created under copyright exceptions in national legislation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government, together with their European partners, are playing a positive role in supporting WIPO's work on the development-related aspects of IP. Our efforts build on commitments given in our response to the 2002 report on the subject by the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. Specifically, the Patent Office is engaged in making and discussing proposals with WIPO officials, developed and developing countries aiming towards an IP system which enables developing countries to make best use of their innovative and creative activity so as to achieve social and economic progress. We must also ensure that the legitimate interests of those holding intellectual property are properly protected to facilitate wider international investment in developing countries.
	In November 2004, the WIPO Standing Committee on copyright and related rights considered a proposal by Chile that the committee should address the subject of exceptions to rights for the purposes of education, libraries and disabled persons. A constructive exchange resulted in full support from those present, including the United Kingdom, for further discussion at the committee's next session planned for later this year.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the Attorney-General's duty to provide legal advice to Parliament.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General and I are legal advisers to the Government. On occasionwhere this does not conflict with our Governmental rolewe also give advice to Parliament on procedural questions, matters of standards and privileges, and on the meaning and effect of proposed legislation.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Attorney-General, or his advisers, in drafting the Parliamentary answer setting out his view on the legal basis for the use of force in Iraq dated 17 March 2003 had concluded that (a) there was no prospect of a successful legal challenge of a decision by Her Majesty's Government to use force in Iraq at any competent international court, (b) there were no legal grounds on which such a challenge could be based and (c) while justiciable grounds existed, such a challenge was unlikely to be initiated.

Harriet Harman: The advice given by the Attorney-General is not publicly disclosed.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the Attorney-General agreed with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary the proposal to make a written statement to Parliament setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force in Iraq; on what date this discussion was first initiated; on whose initiative; and when the Attorney-General was first informed of the question tabled by the Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale which he answered on 17 March 2003.

Harriet Harman: Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale tabled her question to the Attorney-General on 17 March 2003. The question was inspired by the Government to enable the Attorney-General to set out his view to Parliament of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. Ministerial discussions about the making of a statement to Parliament are not disclosed.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 8 March 2005, Official Report,column 1639W, on Iraq (Legal Advice), if she will publish the assistance furnished by Professor Christopher Greenwood, QC, in preparation of the Attorney-General's statement to Parliament of 17 March 2003.

Harriet Harman: The assistance provided by Professor Greenwood in relation to the preparation of the Attorney-General's written answer of 17 March 2003 was given at a meeting with the Attorney-General on 16 March 2003, as described in a written answer given by the Attorney-General on 28 February 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA1.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the legal advice from Professor Greenwood relating to the war in Iraq was received; and how much was paid for the advice.

Harriet Harman: As my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General said in reply to Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 21 March 2005, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA3, and as I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1639W, Professor Greenwood was not instructed to advise on whether the war in Iraq would be lawful.
	The answer given my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General on 21 March set out the fees paid to Professor Greenwood for the assistance he has provided between March 2003 and March 2005 in relation to a variety of different legal issues arising from the Iraq conflict. Christopher Greenwood QC was instructed in relation to these issues because he is a highly regarded professor of international law and advocate who has advised the Government on issues of international law on many occasions, including in relation to cases in both domestic and international courts.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General if the Attorney-General will publish background papers used to prepare his written parliamentary answer on the legality of the use of force in Iraq of 17 March 2003.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General's written parliamentary answer of 17 March 2003 was based on his legal advice. The Government do not intend to publish this advice.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list each legal authority consulted by the Attorney-General in the preparation of his opinion on the legalityof taking military action against Iraq in March 2003.

Harriet Harman: No. The information requested relates to the provision of advice by the Law Officers and is not disclosed.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor General what criteria were used in deciding to engage Professor Christopher Greenwood as an adviser on considering the legality of military action against Iraq in 2003.

Harriet Harman: As my right hon. Friend the Attorney General said in reply to Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 21 March 2005, Official Report, column WA3, and as I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1639W, Professor Greenwood was not instructed to advise on whether the war in Iraq would be lawful.
	The answer given by my right hon. Friend the Attorney General on 21 March set out the fees paid to Professor Greenwood for the assistance he has provided between March 2003 and March 2005 in relation to a variety of different legal issues arising from the Iraq conflict. Christopher Greenwood QC was instructed in relation to these issues because he is a highly regarded professor of international law and advocate who has advised the Government on issues of international law on many occasions, including in relation to cases in both domestic and international courts.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General how many pages constituted the briefing material the Attorney-General used in support of his presentation to Cabinet on 17 March 2003 of his legal opinion on the legality of taking military action against Iraq.

Harriet Harman: At the meeting of the Cabinet on 17 March 2003, the Attorney-General reported that he had answered a parliamentary question on the authority for the use of force in Iraq. He produced the text of that answer for Cabinet and made an oral presentation. It was also reported that the Foreign Secretary had sent a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the legal basis for the use of force.

Iraq (Legal Advice)

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor-General what meetings (a) she and (b) the Attorney-General held with (i) Ministers, (ii) Government special advisers, (iii)external contracted advisers and (iv) officials of foreign Governments between 7 March and 17 March 2003, in respect of the preparation of the Attorney-General's legal advice on military action against Iraq.

Harriet Harman: Neither the Solicitor-General nor the Attorney-General held any meetings with Ministers, Government special advisers, external contracted advisers or officials of foreign Governments between 7 March 2003 and 17 March 2003 for the purpose of preparing the Attorney-General's legal advice on military action against Iraq.

Legal Advice (Ministers)

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor General if she will list the occasions since 1997 when legal advice to Ministers prepared by the Attorney General has been made publicly available.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Attorney General on 6 November 2003 to the Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Official Report, column WA128.

Ministerial Visits

Llew Smith: To ask the Solicitor General which departments of the United States Administration were visited by the Attorney General during his visit to Washington in February 2003; and what the purpose of each meeting was.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 21W, and the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 48W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Ross Cranston: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of successful appeals against convictions to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division between 2000 and 2004, with particular reference to the implications for the funding of the Criminal Defence Service; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Between 2000 and 2004, in those applications where leave to appeal had been granted, on average 33 per cent. of appeals against conviction were successful. During the same period the overall annual spend from the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) Budget in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division varied between 5 million and 10 million. In the context of a current annual CDS Budget of approximately 1billion, it is not considered that total spend in the Court of Appeal is excessive, nor that it threatens delivery of other CDS priorities.

Freedom of Information

Llew Smith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps have been taken to disseminate information on best practice in the application of freedom of information guidance to Government Departments.

David Lammy: My Department has provided support to Freedom of Information (FOI) practitioners in Government Departments through the FOI Practitioners Group forum as well as through the e-forum website. The Practitioners Group has provided a useful forum to discuss in depth the practical impact of FOI and the application of the suite of guidance issued by my Department on 26 October 2004. To provide more in-depth support on particular issues facing Government Departments, my Department has issued working assumptions on the application of exemptions to particular classes of information. The Access to Information Central Clearing House provides daily support to all Whitehall departments. My Department also ran training seminars for all Whitehall decision makers prior to 1 January.

Immigration

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Immigration Appeal Tribunal has considered the case of Mr. Aaron Chisango; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Permission to appeal was granted by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) on 2 February 2005. The appeal has been listed for hearing by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on Monday 9 May 2005, in accordance with The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005 (SI 2005 No. 565 (C.25)).

Legal Aid (Leicester, South)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list those cases in which legal aid has been (a) awarded and (b) applied for but not awarded to families in Leicester, South since 1997.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission is not able to name individual cases due to the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The Legal Services Commission contracts with suppliers in Leicester and elsewhere to provide a range of legal and advice services across different categories of law.
	The following table outlines numbers of certificates (a) issued and (b) applied for but not issued in the family and non-family categories of civil legal aid for the Commission's Leicester contracting bid zone.
	
		Applications issued in Leicester 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2004
		
			  Issued family Issued non-family Total application Not issued family Not issued non-family Total application 
		
		
			 1998 1,758 1,069 2,827 520 603 1,123 
			 1999 1,567 805 2,372 379 509 888 
			 2000 1,194 425 1,619 301 309 610 
			 2001 1,282 327 1,609 298 130 428 
			 2002 1,260 325 1,585 282 94 376 
			 2003 1,355 282 1,637 289 96 385 
			 2004 1,192 196 1,388 229 87 316

Royal Marriage

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2005, Official Report, column 462W, on the Royal Marriage, whether the spouse of HRH the Prince of Wales will be the Princess of Wales consequent on the marriage to be held on 9 April; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Following her marriage, Camilla Parker Bowles will be HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland. As was made clear at the time of the announcement of the marriage, she will be Princess of Wales but will not use the title.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Chile

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Chile's adherence to end user certificates in respect of arms exports from the UK.

Denis MacShane: We believe that the Government of Chile issue end user certificates in respect of arms exports in good faith and that they take appropriate steps to safeguard UK-origin defence equipment. The UK Government undertake monitoring in the recipient country of arms supplied by UK manufacturers when we believe that this would genuinely help to minimise the risk of diversion and where such monitoring is practical. In addition, UK overseas Posts have standing instructions to report any misuse of UK-origin defence equipment. Evidence of misuse would be taken into account when the Government assess any subsequent licence applications for the end-user and we may also, if appropriate, revoke related licences.

Chile

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Government of Chile concerning the prosecution of General Pinochet and other officials of the 1973 to 1990 regime; what assistance has been offered for forensic research; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this issue with the Government of Chile. The Government have not received any request for forensic research. While it would be inappropriate to comment on specific cases still in process, we warmly welcome any measures taken by the Chilean Government to address past human rights abuses.

EU Constitution

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Articles in the proposed Constitution for the European Union include provisions which are not already in force by virtue of existing treaties; and which of the Articles making new provisions have been subject to debate in Parliament.

Denis MacShane: A Commentary analysing the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and comparing its provisions with the existing EU Treaties was published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk and laid before Parliament on 26 January. It was published as Command Paper 6459 in time for Second Reading of the EU Bill. The Commentary, in analysing every Article of the draft Treaty, sets out which provisions are new and explains where the Treaty provision derives from if it is not new. There has been considerable parliamentary scrutiny of all parts of the Constitutional Treaty, including during debates on the Convention on the Future of Europe and the Intergovernmental Conference in 200304. In addition, Parliament will be able to comment on the Treaty during the passage of the EU Bill.

EU Constitution

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State forForeign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Courts of the United Kingdom will be bound by the terms of the Charter of Fundamental Rights if the proposed Constitution for the European Union is adopted.

Denis MacShane: The Charter of Fundamental Rights as set out in part 2 of the EU Constitutional Treaty will become part of UK treaty law by virtue of the EU Bill. The Charter binds only the EU's own institutions, and binds member states only when they are implementing EU law.

EU Constitution

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which body was responsible for drafting the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Community and Union; who the representatives of the United Kingdom on that body were; at which Heads of Government Council it was agreed that the Charter should be part of the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European Union; and what parliamentary procedures occurred in the United Kingdom relating to it prior to signature of the Treaty for the Constitution on 29 October 2004.

Denis MacShane: The Charter of Fundamental Rights was drafted in 2000 by a Convention of representatives of member state Governments, National Parliaments, the European Parliament and the European Commission. The UK Government's representative was my noble Friend Lord Goldsmith, and his alternate was Martin Eaton. The UK's National Parliament was represented by the noble Lord, Lord Bowness and my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths). Their alternates were my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) and my noble Friend the Baroness Howells of St. Davids. The UK was also represented through the European Parliament by Andrew Duff MEP and Timothy Kirkhope MEP. Their alternates were Graham Watson MEP and Philip Whitehead MEP.
	The Charter was agreed as a political declaration at the Nice European Council in December 2000, where Heads of State and Government also agreed to review its legal status at the next intergovernmental conference (IGC). The UK Government agreed to the incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the EU Constitutional Treaty at the June European Council in 2004.
	There has been considerable parliamentary scrutiny of all parts of the Constitutional Treaty, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights, during the Convention on the Future of Europe and the IGC in 200304. In addition, Parliament will be able to comment on the treaty during the passage of the EU Bill, and the public will be able to vote on it in the referendum.

European Court of Justice

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the process of appointment for members of the European Court of Justice for each member state is.

Denis MacShane: The judges and Advocates-General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) are appointed by common accord of the Governments of the member states and hold office for a renewable term of six years. The Court is composed of one judge per member state, so that all the EU's national legal systems are represented. If a judge or Advocate-General resigns or retires before the end of their term, the member state in question nominates a new candidate. Members of the ECJ are chosen from legal experts whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their respective countries or who are of recognised competence.

European Legislation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) directives and (b) regulations of the European (i)Communities and (ii) Union are in force; and how many have come into force since 1 May 1997.

Denis MacShane: Information relating to the number of European Community and European Union directives and regulations currently in force, and those which have entered into force since 1 May 1997, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government welcome the Commission's recent Communication 'Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs', which promises further work on assessing the impact of new measures and on simplifying existing legislation.
	My hon. Friend may also wish to consult Standard Note SN/IA/2888 in the Library of the House which gives details of the number of measures adopted and the number which have been repealed or have expired in any given year.

G8 Summit

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of (a) completed and (b) planned refurbishment and redecoration of (i) buildings and (ii)sites associated with the forthcoming G8 summit; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: In preparation for the G8 Summit in July, some refurbishment work and building of temporary structures will be necessary, but the work has not yet started and the cost has not yet been finalised.

G8 Summit

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) his Department will be of completed or planned refurbishment and redecoration of buildings and sites for the forthcoming G8 summit; and if he will list (i) work completed, (ii) work planned and (iii) the buildings and sites involved.

Bill Rammell: In preparation for the G8 Summit in July, some refurbishment work will be necessary at facilities in Scotland, as well as the building of temporary structures at the Gleneagles hotel. The work planned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet started and the cost has not yet been finalised. We understand that some limited refurbishment and redecoration (amounting to less than 500) has taken place in a number of police buildings. Other property costs are being incurred in connection with security but it is not Scottish Executive policy to comment on security aspects.

Intelligence Operations

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the nature is of the complexities and difficulties to which reference is made in respect of international co-operation on security intelligence, at paragraph 7 of Cm 6492, Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction, implementation of its conclusions.

Jack Straw: The global nature of the current terrorist threat is such that groups and individuals from different countries may be involved in planning and supporting terrorist activity both in the country in which they are based and elsewhere. This presents challenges in managing investigations, prosecutions and other legal sanctions often simultaneously, across national boundaries, further complicated by other practical difficulties, such as different legal systems.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning further steps to safeguard the archaeological heritage of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government take very seriously the need to respect Iraq's cultural heritage. As United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 (June 2004)stressed, all parties need to respect and protect Iraq's archaeological, historical, cultural, and religious heritage.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell) has spoken with the Iraqi Minister of Culture and is kept closely informed of key cultural issues in Iraq. At the Iraqi Ministry's request we helped facilitate a British Museum visit to Babylon in December 2004.
	The Government are currently funding three Iraqi interns to receive training on site management techniques and museology, based at the British Museum. We continue to look at ways of supporting the museum's involvement in Iraq.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will authorise Mrs.Elizabeth Wilmshurst to give a public account of her arguments and her reasoning on the legality of war in Iraq.

Jack Straw: Elizabeth Wilmshurst is under continuing obligations by virtue of the Official Secrets Acts and her professional position. It would not be appropriate to relieve her of these obligations.

Irish Lights

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Irish Government about payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no contact with the Irish Government on this issue. However, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ireland raised this issue with the Secretary-General of the Irish Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 17 June 2004. Officials at the Department of Transport have recently discussed with the Irish Government the principle of a review of the light dues system including the 1985 agreement. The Irish Government have indicated that it is willing for such a review to take place.

Kyrgyzstan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Kyrgyzstan; and what steps he is taking through diplomatic channels to find a peaceful settlement.

Bill Rammell: On 27 February 2005, Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections. On 4 March I made a statement noting that, while more competitive than previous elections, the elections had still not fully matched up to international standards.
	The second round of elections on 13 March 2005 were marred by the same shortcomings as the first, with allegations of vote buying and pressure on the independent media.
	In the course of the following week the number of protests against individual results escalated, and the demonstrations became increasingly assertive. By 21 March, the protesters had seized regional administrative buildings in the southern cities of Osh and Jalabad.
	On 24 March a large demonstration took place in the capital Bishkek calling for President Akaev to resign. The demonstrators took control of the main Government building. The Government resigned and President Akaev left the country.
	The opposition figures have formed an interim Government and attempted to restore order to the streets of Bishkek and to the country as a whole. The old Parliament has now dissolved itself, so legitimising the newly elected Parliament. However, 13 out of the 75 seats remain disputed. New elections will be held for them in the future. New presidential elections have provisionally been called for 26 June.
	Our ambassador was in Bishkek on 2428 March when the main action took place. With EU and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) colleagues he met various members of the interim Government. They encouraged the Government to re-establish law and order, pursue a policy of national reconciliation and dialogue with all political forces in Kyrgyzstan and ensure continuity of reform programmes. In doing so they emphasised the need to respect fully democratic norms and human rights.
	I reinforced these messages in a phone call to the acting Foreign Minister, Roza Otunbaeva, on 30 March. I noted that the upcoming elections would be crucial in determining the domestic and international credibility of the interim Government. I encouraged the interim Government to work closely with the OSCE and reaffirmed the willingness of the UK, with our EU partners, to co-operate with the interim Government in this respect.

Nepal

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support a resolution at the Commission on Human Rights calling for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Nepal to monitor the human rights situation; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The UK is closely involved in negotiations at the UN Commission on Human Rights this year, as we were last year when we contributed significantly to a chairman's statement. We remain equally engaged this year in the new political context following the King's take-over of power on 1 February and his suspension of fundamental rights. We remain deeply troubled by all abuses carried out against the ordinary people of Nepal, both by the state and the Maoists, and remain committed to improving the human rights situation in Nepal. We are seeking to do this through a number of means, including by continuing to fund human rights organisations and remaining engaged with the Nepalese National Human Rights Commission. We are also seeking to effect change through the UN Commission for Human Rights and are currently working with our international partners to find the best way to take this forward. Unless radical progress is made in the short term, we will be looking to secure a robust statement calling for the release of all political prisoners, the restoration of fundamental rights and an appropriate mechanism for human rights monitoring. The final position is still evolving in negotiation with our international partners.

Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory states to sign and ratify additional protocols; and whether it is his policy that adherence to additional protocols should be set as the standard for verifying compliance with the Treaty.

Denis MacShane: The Government use every opportunity bilaterally and multilaterally to encourage universal acceptance of the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocols (AP) and for recognition that, together with the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, the AP is now the nuclear verification standard. We would like to see the AP accepted as a future condition of supply of sensitive nuclear materials.

Nuclear Proliferation

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances he would make public information received from friendly foreign intelligence services on nuclear proliferation activities.

Jack Straw: Intelligence information is made public only in exceptional circumstances, and in the case where it has been received from a foreign security or intelligence service this would be done only with their agreement.

Porton Down

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Secret Intelligence Service commissioned the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down to conduct experiments with the chemical LSD on service personnel; when these experiments took place; what the outcome was of the trials; how many service personnel were tested with LSD; how many Porton Down scientists were tested with LSD; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: In 1953 and 1954 the Secret Intelligence Service commissioned Porton Down to conduct tests on military service volunteers, and also on Porton Scientists themselves, to examine their reactions to LSD. The Government's defence interest in LSD began in the early 1950s because of its perceived potential as an incapacitant and/or interrogation aid. The 195354 LSD tests were but a small part of the continuing Porton Down volunteer test programme. The conclusion of the tests was that LSD had no demonstrable value for intelligence purposes.

Uganda

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs when the People's Redemption Army (PRA) in Uganda was formed; what installations the PRA has attacked; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris Mullin) gave on 9 March 2005, Official Report, column 1896W to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

United Nations (Secretary-General's Report)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government will make to Chapter three of the Secretary-General of the United Nations' Report, In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights For All.

Bill Rammell: We have warmly welcomed the publication of the Secretary General's report issued on 21 March In Larger Freedom, and the bold reform proposals it makes. It is consistent with UK priorities for the Millennium Review Summit in September.
	We are engaging actively with partners and with the UN on implementation of the report, including on many issues highlighted in Chapter III: Freedom from fear. We want to encourage agreement on a substantial package of UN reforms, including on the proposed Peacebuilding Commission and on strengthening the UN's response to the threat of terrorism.
	We have also embarked on a public consultation exercise throughout the UK with the UN Association, to ensure that members of the public and civil society are given the opportunity of feeding in their views.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning the fundraising mission to the UK earlier in 2005 of Dr. Ghulam Adam from Zimbabwe; what action his Department has taken to ensure there has been no breach of the European Union's restrictive measures against Zimbabwe; and what action can be taken against individuals who may have donated money in contravention of the EU restrictions.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received uncorroborated reports earlier this year that Dr. Adam had previously been in the UK conducting fund-raising for ZANU-PF. Fund-raising for a political party is not in itself a breach of EU sanctions on Zimbabwe. These sanctions provide that
	'no funds or economic resources shall be made available directly or indirectly to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed',
	a list which includes individual leading members of the Zimbabwean regime and of ZANU-PF but not the party itself. An offence would therefore have been committed only if the object or effect of the fund-raising was to give funds directly or indirectly to persons subject to the sanctions, and we have not received actionable evidence to that effect. We refer all credible allegations that the EU sanctions may have been broken to the relevant UK authorities. Those responsible for breaching sanctions are liable for prosecution.

HEALTH

A and E Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the compliance target for the maximum four-hour accident and emergency waiting time has been set at 98 per cent.

Rosie Winterton: The 98 per cent. operational standard was set to allow sufficient flexibility for clinicians to manage the small minority of patients who clinically require more than four hours in accident and emergency. It followed a wide consultation with clinicians and their representative organisations.

A and E Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to undertake unannounced inspections of hospitals accident and emergency departments to monitor compliance with the four-hour waiting time target.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service collects data for every patient who attends accident and emergency (A and E) showing performance against the four-hour target. There are clear reporting standards, set through national guidance, and there are rigorous checks at both local and national level to ensure that the data returns are robust. The Department also deploys a number of improvement teams who work directly with A and E departments and who are able to provide additional assurances about the quality and reliability of performance reporting. We do not consider that any additional checks are needed.

Agenda for Change

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to seek to ensure that pay scales on the Whitley scheme will be the same or greater following the implementation of the Agenda for Change programme after April 2006.

John Hutton: The pay banding of staff under Agenda for Change is determined by the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme, which is designed to ensure equal pay for work of equal value. In the case of the minority of individual staff whose regular pay might otherwise be lower under the new system, their pay will be protected in accordance with the arrangements agreed by the NHS Staff Council. These arrangements are set in Section 46 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, a copy of which is in the Library.

Appointments Commission

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) when he expects an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Appointments Commission to be initiated;
	(2)  what checks on declaration of interests the Department of Health undertakes alongside those of the Appointments Commission.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service Appointments Commission was reviewed last year as part of the Department's review of its arm's-length bodies. The review recommended a change of status to executive non-departmental public body and an extended remit.
	As part of the current governance arrangements for the NHS Appointments Commission, the Department formally reviews progress in meeting annual business plan targets bi-annually. The Appointments Commission is also subject to regular audit by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	The Department does not undertake additional checks on declarations of interest. The Secretary of State has delegated the majority of his appointments functions to the NHS Appointments Commission.

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the extent to which the standards set by the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance and included in his Department's publication Supporting People with Long Term Conditions, are achieved in the NHS.

John Hutton: The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance's standards for care for people with back pain were referenced in the Department's publication Supporting People with Long Term Conditions as an example of best practice.
	Standards for Better Health, published in July 2004, sets out the national standards for national health service patients to receive effective treatment and care that conforms to nationally agreed best practice.
	In line with Shifting the Balance of Power, it is the responsibility of the NHS locally to manage the delivery of these standards with the independent Healthcare Commission responsible for assessing and inspecting health care, taking into account Standards for Better Health.

Children's National Service Framework

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what structures are in place to monitor the implementation of the children's national service framework.

Stephen Ladyman: The national service framework (NSF) is a key component of the Government's overall programme, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, which aims to improve outcomes for children, including health outcomes. Supporting Local Delivery, the delivery strategy for the NSF, described how progress would be measured. This will include internal evaluation using indicators which are under development, performance management by strategic health authorities and the inspection process. The inspectorates will be responsible for measuring progress against the NSF, to judge the contribution of services to improving these outcomes. Commencing in September this year, Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection will conduct joint area reviews of children's services to assess the contribution of local services to improving outcomes for children and young people.
	Assessment of progress against the NSF in the national health service specifically is the responsibility of the Healthcare Commission, which has recently completed an extensive public consultation on a new system of assessing and performance rating NHS trusts in 200506.

Children's National Service Framework

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to support primary care trusts in setting local delivery targets for the Children's National Service Framework.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is keen to encourage maximum flexibility in the setting of local targets, to ensure that they are appropriate to the needs of local communities. The Department has set out six principles for local target setting for the national health service and social care as part of its planning guidance, National Standards, Local Action.
	Primary care trusts must agree appropriate local targets, in line with the six principles, with their strategic health authority, which is responsible for offering support throughout the planning process. In providing the context for these principles, the guidance states that organisations will need to be guided by the evidence set out in national service frameworks.

COX-2 Inhibitors

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ban the use of all COX-2 inhibitors.

Rosie Winterton: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with expert advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), has continuously monitored the balance of risks and benefits of selective COX-2 inhibitors since they were first licensed in the United Kingdom, and has taken regulatory action to minimise risks and maximise safe use of these medicines on a number of occasions, as new evidence has emerged.
	In 2004, new clinical trial evidence showing an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes with rofecoxib led the Marketing Authorisation holder to withdraw this selective COX-2 inhibitor. Subsequently, the CSM set up a working group to re-examine the cardiovascular safety of all selective COX-2 inhibitors. In addition, the UK has taken a leading role in a Europe wide review of this issue. Having reviewed all the available evidence, CSM has advised that selective COX-2 inhibitors should not be used in patients with heart disease or previous stroke, but should remain an option for other patients, with whom the balance of benefits and risk may be favourable. CSM's latest advice was communicated to healthcare professionals on 17 February 2005.

Crohn's Disease

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will exempt sufferers of Crohn's disease from prescription charges.

Rosie Winterton: We have no plans to extend the existing list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges. The list has been reviewed on a number of occasions but no clear cut case for extending it has emerged. There is no consensus on what additional conditions might be included in any revised list of medical exemptions, or how distinctions could be drawn between one condition and another.
	Government policy is to help those who may have difficulty paying charges. The current exemption and charge remission arrangements are intended to ensure that no one need be deterred from obtaining any necessary medication on financial grounds. Consequently 86 per cent. of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge.

Device Evaluation

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated for device evaluation from April 200506.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 March 2005
	The devices evaluation service is due to transfer from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency in 2005. Its budget is still being finalised but will be increased from the 200405 level.

Drug Reactions

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the systems for detecting adverse reactions to drugs.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom has been working with other member states on the implementation of a European risk management strategy designed to strengthen drug safety monitoring by making best use of all available resource, both data and expertise. Changes proposed to legislation, which will come into force in November 2005, will further strengthen drug safety monitoring in requiring risk management plans at the time of licensing new medicines and in further strengthening the obligations on the industry to keep regulators informed of any issue that may impact on the safety of a marketed medicine.

Drug Treatment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of differing reports by Nottinghamshire Drug Action Team and Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust of the number of people receiving treatment for drugs in Bassetlaw in 200304; what definition his Department uses of the term drug treatment; and what steps are taken to correlate this definition with that used by the Department of Health;
	(2)  what methodology was used to quantify the figure reported by Nottinghamshire Drug Action Team for the number of clients accessing needle exchanges in Bassetlaw in 200304; and what criteria were used by (a) the National Treatment Agency and (b) the local Government office to verify its authenticity.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 23 March 2005
	I have asked officials in the Nottinghamshire Drug Action Team to write to my hon. Friend directly with this information.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthif he will increase funding available for research into developing a therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology, part of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Elderly People (Falls)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to prevent falls by elderly people.

Stephen Ladyman: The national service framework (NSF) for older people, launched in March 2001, requires integrated falls services to be in place locally by April 2005. The NSF provides a detailed description of what an integrated falls service should consist of. Adherence to this target is currently being monitored.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence also published on 24 November 2004 clinical guidelines on preventing falls in older people.

Electronic Referral Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the choose and book electronic referral scheme.

John Hutton: The choose and book implementation programme is making good progress. The choose and book service has been implemented in five reference sites. AH strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts have submitted revised roll-out returns, based on the aim of the choose and book service being used for at least 80 per cent. of general practitioner referrals by the end of 2005. The Department is currently discussing these returns with SHAs.

Epilepsy

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on whether people with epilepsy may be sectioned under the Mental Health Acts; and if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Martin Buckley, currently in the care of the National Society for Epilepsy, Buckinghamshire, whose mother is a constituent of the hon. Member.

Rosie Winterton: As epilepsy is not now regarded by clinicians as a mental disorder, I have issued no such guidance. The decision on whether a person meets the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act can only be taken in the light of the facts of the particular case.
	I am unable to comment on the particular details of the case of Martin Buckley for reasons of patient confidentiality.

Exercise and Sport

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to complete the process of evaluating (a) the Local Exercise Action Pilots, (b) the New Opportunities for Physical Education and Sport programme and (c) the Active England programme.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	The process of evaluating (a) the Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAPs) will be completed in summer 2006 (b) the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme will be completed in 2008 and (c) the Active England programme by 2009. An interim report for LEAP will also be produced in May 2005 and interim reports for the other two programmes will be produced on a regular basis up until the final evaluation.

External Management Consultants

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on the employment of external management consultants in each of the last five years, broken down by type of project.

John Hutton: Information on the costs of employing external management consultants and the type of project is not collected centrally.

External Management Consultants

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collects on the (a) roles and (b) extent of use of external management consultants in the NHS; and in what year this information was first collected.

John Hutton: This information is not collected centrally. The use of external management consultants is a decision for each national health service trust.

Free Personal Care

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to determine which medical conditions qualify a patient for free personal care.

Stephen Ladyman: A patient who is assessed as needing national health service fully-funded continuing health care services will receive all those care services, including any personal care, free of change. Eligibility criteria for continuing health care services are currently set by strategic health authorities and are based on the need for care, not diagnosis.

General Medical Services Contracts

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce (a) inflammatory arthritis and (b) psoriatic arthritis into the quality and outcome frameworks of general practitioners' general medical services contracts.

John Hutton: The national quality and outcomes framework (QOF) is under review. The review will include an independent expert group advising on the clinical evidence to support any changes to the current scheme. As part of that review, the Department will be submitting evidence to the expert group to ensure that the Government's priorities for improving the care delivered to patients by primary care practitioners is secured.
	The expert group will then give advice to the national health service employers, who negotiate changes to the general practitioner contract on behalf of the Department and the British Medical Association about changes that may be made to the QOF for implementation from April 2006.

Head Lice

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in dealing with the prevention and treatment of head lice; and whether there is evidence that the problem is being contained.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the incidence of head louse infestation is not collected centrally. The Department has no evidence that the problem is not being contained. Advice on tackling head louse infestation has been issued by the Department. Assistance is also available from the primary health care team, which includes health visitors, school nurses, general practitioners and community pharmacists. The Department also funds a voluntary group, Community Hygiene Concern, which promotes the Bug Busting approach to controlling infestation.

Head Lice

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records he keeps of the incidence of head lice infestation; what steps he is taking to reduce infestation; and what change there has been in the last five years in (a) the level of infestations, (b) the immunity of lice to treatment and (c) effectiveness of treatments for head lice.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the incidence, changing levels of head louse infestation or acquired immunity to insecticides in lice is not collected centrally. Advice on tackling infestation, and thereby reducing incidence, has been issued by the Department. Further assistance is available from the primary health care team, which includes health visitors, school nurses, general practitioners and community pharmacists.
	A number of lotions are licensed for the safe and effective treatment of head lice. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency keeps the safety and efficacy of treatments under review and will cancel or restrict the licence of products which fail in terms of safety and/or efficacy. The Department also funds a voluntary group, Community Hygiene Concern, which promotes the Bug Busting approach to controlling infestation, which does not rely on lotions.

Health Services (Leicester, South)

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were receiving NHS dental treatment in Leicester South in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, Leicester South is served by Leicester City West Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Eastern Leicester PCT. The number of people in the PCT areas, that were registered with an national health service dentist for the years 1997 to 2004 are as shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Number of people registered with an NHS dentist 1997 to 2004
		
			  Eastern Leicester PCT Leicester City West PCT 
		
		
			 1997 129,541 60,993 
			 1998 112,111 50,475 
			 1999 112,397 51,637 
			 2000 114,121 51,097 
			 2001 119,118 49,789 
			 2002 109,940 53,009 
			 2003 109,637 54,665 
			 2004 112,346 53,513 
		
	
	The drop in registrations between 1997 and 2004 is mostly attributable to the reduction in the re-registration period for patients from two years to 15 months.
	The figures also exclude patients treated in dental access centres, who are not registered. In 2004, there were some 375,000 episodes of treatment in the 48 dental access centres then in operation in England. However, table 2 shows the breakdown of patients seen and treatments completed at the Leicestershire dental access centre, which opened in December 2001up to and including data as of 31 January 2005.
	
		Table 2: Number of patients seen, Leicestershire dental access centre December 2001 to January 2005
		
			  Number of patients seen Number of courses completed 
		
		
			 200001   
			 200102 698 705 
			 200203 1,896 1,979 
			 200304 2,637 2,775 
			 Year to date 4,264 4,495

McKinsey and Company

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments his Department made to McKinsey and Company during the past 12 months.

John Hutton: Since April 2004, the Department has paid 105,750 to McKinsey and Company to assist with implementing new financial arrangements for national health service foundation trusts.

Heart Surgery (Wimbledon)

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Wimbledon.

Stephen Ladyman: Revascularisation data is not available for the Wimbledon area and is only collected by trust. The table shows revascularisation waits at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust.
	
		Revascularisation waits at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust
		
			 Month Procedure Total number of patients waiting Number waiting 03 months Number waiting 36 months Number waiting 69 months Number waiting 9+ months 
		
		
			 July 2002 Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) 172 100 47 23 2 
			 January 2005 Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) 61 61 0 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Monthly monitoring.

Hospital Food

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on sourcing pork, bacon and ham bearing the British Pig Executive's Quality Standard Mark in hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The procurement of pork and bacon within the English national health service has to comply with the European Union Procurement Legislation, as the value of meat and poultry consumed by the English NHS is in excess of the threshold values contained within the legislation. The framework agreements covering these products, developed by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA), influence approximately 70 per cent. of the requirements of the NHS in England and aim to deliver best value for money in terms of price, quality and service from contracted suppliers.
	The specifications employed by NHS PASA were created with the Meat and Livestock Commission and Louchry College in Ireland. For the pork and bacon products, the specifications call for all suppliers to comply with the NHS code of practice for the manufacture, distribution and supply of food, ingredients and food related products; additionally, along with a wider range of criteria, the specifications call for pigs to be slaughtered and processed on European Commission, or equivalent, approved premises and the labelling must include the country of origin. Provided that it satisfies the NHS code of practice, NHS PASA would purchase pork, bacon and ham carrying the British Pig Executive's quality standards mark if it represented value for money.
	Over the past 12 months, in excess of 86 per cent. of the pork joints, chops, mince, loin steaks etc. procured against NHS PASA's framework agreements were sourced from pigs originating from the United Kingdom. In terms of bacon, approximately 50 per cent. of the bacon sourced from NHS PASA's contracted butchers was of UK origin. The remaining countries of origin were mainly Holland and Denmark.

Mental Health

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2005, Official Report, columns 190910W, on mental health, what assessment he has made of the reasons for parts of the country being slow to use atypical antipsychotics; and what action he is taking to increase their take-up.

Rosie Winterton: No evaluation has been made of the reasons as to why parts of the country may be slow to use atypical antipsychotics. However, the Department will continue to monitor prescribing trends of all antipsychotic drugs.

NHS Bank

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in delivering the NHS Bank.

John Hutton: The NHS Bank has been in existence and supporting national health service financial management since 2002.

NHS Charges

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of (a) providing free sight tests for all, (b) meeting the cost of all prescription charges and (c) meeting the cost of all charges for dental care; and what estimate has been made of the additional cost to the NHS of meeting thecharges only for those currently ineligible in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The cost of extending eligibility for free national health service sight tests to all those who currently pay privately for sight tests is estimated at about 90 million a year in England, based on the 200405 fee rate of 17.82 per test payable to optometrists, and assuming no change in the take up rate for sight tests.
	Income from prescription charges is expected to amount to 452 million in England in 200506. If all prescriptions were provided free of charge that income would be lost. There would also be an unquantifiable, additional cost to the drugs bill.
	The cost of providing free NHS dental care to all those patients who currently pay dental charges is estimated at about 500 million a year in England, based on the levels of NHS dental care provided in 200304.

Dentistry (Chesterfield)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists were practising in Chesterfield constituency on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of them were accepting new NHS (a) adult patients and (b) child patients.

Rosie Winterton: There are 54 dentists practicing in the Chesterfield primary care trust (PCT) area as at 31 December 2004 1 .
	The Trent strategic health authority (SHA) reports that, as at 30 March 2005, there are currently three dental practices accepting new national health service adult or child patients in the Chesterfield PCT area. In addition, a further five practices are accepting NHS adult patients on a qualified basis and three practices accepting children as NHS patients on a qualified basis.
	The Government remain determined to improve access to NHS dentistry and has introduced a number of initiatives, which will help bring about improvements nationally and more locally. PCT funding for dentistry will increase by 19.3 per cent. from 200304 to 200506. Consequently, over 250 million of additional resources will be provided by 200506.
	127,000 has been provided to Chesterfield PCT as part of the dental access monies supplied to Trent SHA. This funding was due to deliver 2,120 new registrations.
	However, it has in fact delivered 2,776 additional patient registrations as at the end of February 2005. It is estimated that this figure will increase by approximately 600 within the next six months.
	Chesterfield PCT is keen to increase dental services in North Derbyshire. The Department has encouraged PCTs to be proactive in establishing early entry into the personal dental service (PDS). Orthodontic PDS will allow development of orthodontic services in the community and thereby reduce the waiting list for secondary care services. The PCT has pursued this goal and has developed good relationships with practice owners. It already has six early PDS practices and one more due to go live in May.
	North Derbyshire PCTs have the following access agreements: four sessions per week with a practice in Clay Cross (in North Eastern Derbyshire PCT) and out of hours service for registered and non-registered patients for three hours during the evening on weekdays and three hours per day weekends and bank holidays at Scarsdale (within Chesterfield PCT).
	1 Source:
	NHS website.

NHS Personnel (Ethnicity)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ethnic composition of NHS personnel is broken down into the categories of the Census for (a) doctors, (b) consultants, (c) general practitioners excluding retainers, registrars and locums, (d) nurses, (e) midwives, (f) managers and senior managers, (g) other and (h) all NHS personnel.

John Hutton: Information on the ethnicity of general practitioners and practice staff is not collected centrally.
	Information on the ethnic composition of all other national health service personnel is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical and dental staff(56), and Non-medical staff(57) by ethnicity(58) -- England as at 30 September 2004Number (headcount)
		
			  All HCHS staff HCHS medical and dental staff(56) of which: HCHS Consultant All non-medical staff(57) of which: Professionally qualified clinical staff total Qualified nurses of which: Midwives 
		
		
			 All staff 1,184,748 82,951 30,650 1,101,797 521,526 375,371 24,844 
			 2001 Population Census Ethnic Group Categories 
			 All 2001 Ethnic Groups 1,118,641 74,677 25,635 1,043,964 493,353 354,859 22,759 
			 White 851,703 43,692 19,630 808,011 365,689 244,964 17,315 
			 Black or Black British 46,933 2,569 605 44,364 23,738 21,099 1,585 
			 Asian or Asian British 61,441 20,384 3,529 41,057 24,383 19,066 340 
			 Mixed 9,331 1,333 274 7,998 4,026 3,021 141 
			 Chinese 5,510 1,437 332 4,073 3,020 2,411 295 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 19,976 3,636 953 16,340 10,918 9,580 187 
			 Not Stated 123,747 1,626 312 122,121 61,579 54,718 2,896 
			 Earlier Ethnic Group Categories(58) 
			 All Earlier Ethnic Groups 66,107 8,274 5,01 5 ; 57,833 28,173 20,512 2,085 
			 White 55,956 6,005 4,131 49,951 23,883 17,503 1,815 
			 Black 2,227 375 169 1,852 1,040 893 84 
			 Asian 2,218 1,347 483 871 504 337 27 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 1,421 499 230 922 671 600 18 
			 Not Stated 4,285 48 2 4,237 2,075 1,179 141 
		
	
	
		
			  Qualified STT total Qualified AHPs Qualified healthcare scientists Other qualified STT Qualified ambulance staff Support to clinical staff Total Support to doctors and nurses Support to STT 
		
		
			 All staff 128,883 58,959 28,242 41,682 17,272 368,285 303,630 55,025 
			 2001 Population Census Ethnic Group Categories 
			 All 2001 Ethnic Groups 121,804 56,077 26,237 39,490 16,690 349,151 287,449 52,157 
			 White 105,683 50,078 22,043 33,562 15,042 270,262 216,470 45,121 
			 Black or Black British 2,567 853 755 959 72 14,192 12,567 1,525 
			 Asian or Asian British 5,223 1,740 1,535 1,948 94 9,392 7,327 1,975 
			 Mixed 916 374 207 335 89 2,442 1,952 411 
			 Chinese 605 161 166 278 4 515 373 130 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 1,306 376 376 554 32 3,389 2,909 470 
			 Not Stated 5,504 2,495 1,155 1,854 1,357 48,959 45,851 2,525 
			  
			 Earlier Ethnic Group Categories(58) 
			 All Earlier Ethnic Groups 7,079 2,882 2,005 2,192 582 19,134 16,181 2,868 
			 White 6,204 2,614 1,676 1,914 176 16,870 14,266 2,559 
			 Black 145 42 57 46 2 561 506 55 
			 Asian 167 49 68 50  222 191 31 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 71 25 23 23  163 149 14 
			 Not Stated 492 152 181 159 404 1,318 1,069 209 
		
	
	
		
			  Support to ambulance staff NHS infrastructure support Total Central functions Hotel property ad estate staff Managers and senior managers Other and unknown total 
		
		
			 All staff 9,630 211,489 99,831 73,932 37,726 497 
			 2001 Population Census Ethnic Group Categories 
			 All 2001 Ethnic Groups 9,545 200,995 96,317 68,407 36,271 465 
			 White 8,671 171,666 82,512 57,570 31,584 394 
			 Black or Black British 100 6,433 2,829 2,813 791 1 
			 Asian or Asian British 90 7,279 4,027 2,370 882 3 
			 Mixed 79 1,518 755 505 258 12 
			 Chinese 12 536 249 186 101 2 
			 Any Other Ethnic Group 10 2,032 831 953 248 1 
			 Not Stated 583 11,531 5,114 4,010 2,407 52 
			
			 Earlier Ethnic Group Categories(58) 
			 All Earlier Ethnic Groups 85 10,494 3,514 5,525 1,455 32 
			 White 45 9,167 3,071 4,852 1,244 31 
			 Black  251 78 141 32  
			 Asian  145 69 57 19  
			 Any Other Ethnic Group  88 35 32 21  
			 Not Stated 40 843 261 443 139 1 
		
	
	(56)Excludes Medical Hospital Practitioners and Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.
	(57)In non-medical data, Unknown includes unstated and unrecorded ethnic group. The ethnic group of all bank staff is unrecorded.
	(58)From 1 April 2001, newly appointed staff have been asked to classify themselves using the ethnic categories listed in the 2001 population census. Existing staff will be reclassified over time but data returns currently include a mixture of 2001 categories and older information based on 1991 population census categories.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Practitioners
	Department of Health non-Medical Workforce Census

NHS University

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the training programmes of the NHS University will be continued in (a) Wales and (b) Northern Ireland.

John Hutton: Decisions on the future of NHS University training programmes will be announced shortly.

NIMHE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the salaries are of the eight regional directors of the National Institute for Mental Health, England (NIMHE); what the cost is of running NIMHE; and how many people have been employed by NIMHE in each year since its inception.

Rosie Winterton: The salary range for National Institute for Mental Health (NIMHE) regional directors is between 78,000 and 115,000. The eight regional directors are employed by different local national health service organisations and as such, their salary details are not collected centrally. The salaries of NIMHE regional directors are not set centrally but, are decided by the local arrangements of the host organisation.
	NIMHE's budget for 200405 is 22.903 million. Of this, 10.61 million is allocated to regional development centres, 9.7725 million to NIMHE national programmes, 2.22 million for central running costs, and 300,000 for NIMHE fellows.
	Since NIMHE's establishment in June 2002, NIMHE has employed 56.8 whole time equivalent (wte) members of staff in 200203, 139.9 wte in 200304, and 230.15 wte in 200405.
	The NIMHE in England was established to directly support front-line organisations to improve their care, helping them to develop services consistent with the standards laid out in the national service framework. The NIMHE regional centres often employ or second in on a part-time basisclinical staff from front line organisations.

NIMHE

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the purpose was of the recent trip by National Institute for Mental Health, England staff members to Australia and the Far East; how many members of staff were involved; what their air travel arrangements were; and how much the visit cost.

Rosie Winterton: The recent visit made by staff from the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) was to New Zealand, rather than Australia and the Far East. The purpose of the visit was to attend the International Institute of Mental Health Leaders conference.
	The visit to NZ is part of an international initiative to promote effective leadership of mental health services sponsored by the Department in England and the equivalent bodies in the United States of America, NZ and Australia.
	The NIMHE paid for 11 people to visit NZ, which included a national service user (and his carer) and a national carer representative. All air travel arrangements were made following guidance issued by the Department. The total cost NIMHE was 24,000.
	Examples of learning by involvement in the International Initiative Mental Health Leadership exchanges and conference encompassed seeing how NZ is taking a leading role internationally in tackling issues of direct relevance to services in the United Kingdom, including:
	Engaging the voluntary and independent sector in playing a major role in providing mental health services30 per cent. of services in NZ are delivered by this sector compared to less than 10 per cent. in England.
	Developing innovative models of mental health service delivery for a complex multicultural society (35 per cent. of the population), which reflects the key role of families and local communities in supporting recovery.
	Managing major public campaigns challenging stigma and discrimination to ensure that people with mental health problems can play their full role in the workforce and in the wider community.
	Addressing the challenges of delivering services in rural communities with limited access to professional staff.
	Among the issues that NZ staff were anxious to learn about were the UK experience of:
	Creating a workforce with appropriate capabilities to meet the needs of rapidly changing services.
	Challenging the social exclusion of people with mental health problems in employment, housing, education and social activities.
	Establishing a national mental health research network to support the development of evidence based practice in health and social care.
	Demonstrating how NIMHE has supported service improvement in front line service delivery, including improved access, booking and choice for service users and their families.

Organ Donation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department's policy that relatives of a deceased person on the organ donor register may refuse permission for the deceased's organs to be donated; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Human Tissue Act 2004 makes clear that where an adult has, while alive and competent, given consent for one or more of the scheduled purposes to take place following their death, then that consent is sufficient for the activity to be lawful. In these circumstances, therefore, a relative of the deceased person may not refuse permission for the deceased's organs to be donated, but there may be cases in which donation may not be practicable. The Human Tissue Authority will be responsible for preparing codes of practice that set out what is lawful and the procedures to be followed to implement the Act. These codes of practice will be subject to consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

Orthopaedic Joint Replacements (Sefton)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect that contracts with Interhealth Care Services for treatment centres will have on waiting lists for orthopaedic joint replacements in Sefton.

John Hutton: Interhealth Care Services will carry out over 900 orthopaedic procedures in the Sefton area, starting from June 2006. Interim service with Nuffield hospitals and Capio Healthcare began in October 2004 and will provide South Sefton Primary Care Trust with an additional 269 procedures for their patients in that year.
	These arrangements will help to speed up operations that patients might otherwise have had to wait longer for.

Paediatric Continence Services

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what structures are in place to measure the availability of integrated paediatric continence services in every community;
	(2)  how he expects that the children's national service framework will promote the provision of integrated paediatric continence services in every community.

Stephen Ladyman: The standard for an integrated, community-based paediatric continence service is defined in the children's national service framework (NSF). National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) are expected to ensure that accessible, high quality continence assessment and treatment is provided. This process will be informed by Good Practice in Paediatric Continence Service-Benchmarking in Action 2003. The Department has also set out principles for needs-based local target setting for health and social care as part of its three-year planning guidance, National Standards, Local Action. PCTs must agree appropriate local targets with their strategic health authority, whose responsibility it is to ensure that local health services are of a high quality and are performing well. The guidance states that organisations will need to be guided by the NSFs, the standards of which will be inspected and reviewed by the Healthcare Commission over a 10-year implementation period, for the children's NSF.

Paediatric Continence Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
	(1)  what advice has been given to strategic healthauthorities on supporting the development of integrated paediatric continence services by primary care trusts;
	(2)  what guidance is available to primary care trusts to support the development of integrated paediatric continence services; and whether guidance has been distributed at the local level;
	(3)  what action he will take to promote the provision of integrated paediatric continence services.

Stephen Ladyman: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) have all received the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services (children's NSF). This promotes the development of integrated, community-based paediatric continence services. It states that service provision should be informed by the NHS Modernisation Agency's 2003 publication Good Practice in Paediatric Continence ServicesBenchmarking in Action, which is available on the clinical governance support group's website at www.cgsupport.nhs.uk/PDFs/articles/Mod_Agency_Good_Practice.pdf.
	The Department has also set out principles for local target setting for the national health service and social care as part of its planning guidance, National Standards, Local Action. This requires PCTs to agree appropriate local targets with their SHA, which has a responsibility to offer support throughout the planning process. National Standards, Local Action states that organisations will need to be guided by the evidence set out in the national service frameworks. In the case of the children's NSF, the Healthcare Commission will inspect and review progress towards achieving the standards over a 10-year implementation period.

Residential Care Costs

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average level of personal care costs in residential homes in England was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 24 March 2005
	Separate figures on the average level of personal care costs in residential homes in England are not available. The average gross weekly expenditure by local authorities, on residential care, including board and lodging payments, personal care, management and support costs, in 200304 is shown in the table.
	
		Weekly expenditure on residential care 200304
		
			 Supported residents Amount () 
		
		
			 Older people 376 
			   
			 Adults aged 1864 with:  
			 Learning disabilities 745 
			 Mentally health needs 450 
			 Physical disabilities 601

Saneline

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how Saneline can benefit from the mental health helplines investment framework.

Rosie Winterton: The chair of the mental health helplines partnership (MHHP), of which SANE was until recently a member has written to SANE offering MHHP's support. The Department has indicated to the chair of the MHHP that it would offer advice and support to MHHP in this matter.

Saneline

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet representatives of SANE to discuss future funding of Saneline.

Rosie Winterton: SANE and the Department have met on a number of occasions to discuss the issue of funding for Saneline.
	The Department's contract with SANE in respect of Saneline comes to an end on 31 March 2005. In terms of the future funding of the Saneline service, SANE is eligible to apply for government funding streams aimed at the voluntary and community sector.

Unified Health and Social Care Assessments

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what performance criteria are applicable to the (a) number and (b) type of assessments to be undertaken in the Unified Health and Social Care Assessment Process;
	(2)  how (a) nutrition and (b) malnutrition are included in the assessment domains of the Unified Health and Social Care Assessment Process;
	(3)  what data relating to (a) nutrition and (b) malnutrition his Department will collect within the assessment domains in the Unified Health and Social Care Assessment Process.

John Hutton: The independent Healthcare Commission is responsible for developing the indicators for use in the national health service performance ratings. Details can be found on its website at: www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/indicators_2005/.
	The Commission has recently completed an extensive public consultation on a new system for assessing and performance rating NHS trusts in 200506 and will be making an announcement in due course.
	The independent Commission for Social Care Inspection is responsible for developing the indicators for use in social care assessment. Details can be found on its website at: www.csci.org.uk/council_performance/paf/performance_indicators.htm.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensioners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the 200 assistance to pensioners to women aged 60 to 64 years.

Malcolm Wicks: We have are no plans to extend the 200 assistance to pensioners to women aged 60 to 64 years.

Pensioners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Coventry he expects will benefit from the 200 council tax assistance proposed in the Budget Statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We estimate that about 30,000 pensioners in Coventry will benefit from the 200 council tax assistance.
	Note:
	Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre

Pensioners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in Coventry who have not applied for pension credit since its introduction; and what rationale underlay the decision to means-test applicants for pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. As at 31 December 2005, there were 16,215 households (19,615 individuals) in the Coventry local authority area in receipt of pension credit. Information on numbers of households or individuals eligible for pension credit is not available at local authority or constituency level.
	This Government's priority when we came to office was to tackle the legacy of pensioner poverty. We continue to do this by targeting help on today's poorest pensioners and by encouraging all pensioners to receive the benefits they are entitled to. At the same time, the Government believes that empowering individuals to make real and informed choices about working and saving for retirement is fundamental if they are to make sure people get the income in retirement they expect. Pension credit rewards those who have worked hard to provide modest incomes for themselves in retirement. Income-testing of benefits has existed since before and after the creation of the Welfare State in 1948. With the introduction of pension credit, and the ease by which it can be applied for, we have moved away from the stigmatising weekly means tests of the past.

Pension Service (Norfolk)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the organisation of the Pension Service in Norfolk.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pension Service is undergoing a challenging transformation programme through to 2008, which will contribute towards the efficiency challenge announced in the Budget 2004. The Pension Service will be transforming at least 12 pension centre sites to deliver improved customer services, efficiencies and more fulfilling jobs for staff.
	The Kingfisher House site in Norwich will support the recovery plans for the Child Support Agency, and will transfer to it by the end of December 2005. The Baltic House site will transfer to Jobcentre Plus by the end of March 2006 to support their transformation programme.
	There will be no change to any telephone numbers and no disruption of service. Customers will continue to contact us, as they do now by phoneon our national numberby email and face to face support in Norfolk through The Pension Service Local Service network.

Child Support Agency

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to determine the order of priority in migrating legacy Child Support Agency cases to the new system.

Chris Pond: Where an old scheme case has a link with a new scheme application, that case will transfer early. However, the legislation allowing the transfer of unlinked cases will be put into effect only when we believe the IT is ready and not before.
	We are determined not to repeat the mistakes of 1993 when the old scheme was brought in far too quickly.

Child Support Agency

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the investigatory powers available to the Child Support Agency to trace parents required to make child support payments.

Chris Pond: The Government made clear in their response to the Select Committee on Work and Pensions that they are committed to keeping the investigative powers the Agency uses under review.
	We acknowledge that the CSA has not made the most effective use of its information gathering powers and are looking for a significant improvement in the Agency's performance in this area.

Child Support Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) senior management posts and (b) enforcement officer posts there have been in each of the regional Child Support Agency centres in each of the last seven years.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 4 April 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) senior management posts and (b) enforcement officer posts there have been in each of the regional Child Support Agency centres in each of the last seven years.
	(a) For the purposes of this response I am regarding 'senior management' as posts filled by members of civil service grades 6 and 7. I am unable to provide a geographical breakdown of senior management posts prior to 2003. From 2003 onwards, the number of senior management posts is as follows:
	
		
			 Regional centre March 2003 March 2004 January 2005 
		
		
			 Midlands 6 5  
			 South Eastern 6 6 23 
			 South Western 3 6  
			 
			 Scotland and NE England 7 7 12 
			 Wales and NW England 6 5  
			 
			 Eastern 1 1 1 
			 Total 29 30 36 
		
	
	We have altered the way senior management figures are reported from January 2005 to reflect recent changes in our organisational structure. 5 of the original business units have been amalgamated to become the Southern and Northern Territories.
	(b) The number of specialist enforcement officer posts is as follows:
	
		
			 Regional centre 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Midlands 32 25 9 17 24 34 38 
			 South Eastern 10 12 14 23 30 27 28 
			 Scotland and NE England 22 46 38 45 46 48 46 
			 South Western 37 16 18 24 30 41 43 
			 Wales and NW England 14 13 14 36 33 36 33 
			 Eastern 14 23 14 17 26 52 52 
			 Total 130 136 107 162 189 237 240

Child Support Agency

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in migrating the existing Child Support Agency caseload to the new formula and systems.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Ashford, (Mr. Damian Green), on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 568W.

Pension Credit

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners eligible for pension credit who are not claiming the credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Reliable estimates of the number of people eligible for pension credit but not receiving it are not yet available. We plan to publish definitive National Statistics on take-up and entitlement for the first six months of pension credit by the end of 2005.
	At the end of December 2004, 3,600 pensioner households (4,460 individuals) in Mid Worcestershire were receiving pension credit, with an average weekly payment of 37.88 per household.

Pension Credit

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on measures taken by his Department relating to the take-up of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: We continue to devote considerable effort and resources to increasing levels of pension credit take-up.
	We have already written to every pensioner household in the country about pension credit and we are re-contacting directly, by mail, telephone or personal visit, those people whom we believe particularly likely to be eligible.
	New marketing campaigns seek to overcome the barriers which might prevent take-up of pension credit and the reasons which people give for not applying.
	The Pension Service local service continues to work in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector, particularly in identifying and contacting older people who are vulnerable or who have yet to take up their entitlement.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a pensioner's higher income from a deferred basic state pension will be taken into account in assessing entitlement to pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: If a person receives a higher weekly income as a result of deferring, then that higher amount is taken into account in pension credit and may be rewarded in savings credit. There are no proposals to change this.

Pension Credit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many phone calls have been made by the Pension Service informing pensioners of pension credit in each month since October 2003;
	(2)  how many pensioners in each parliamentary constituency, having been invited to explore the possibility that they may be eligible for pension credit through an unsolicited call from the Pension Service or other agency for which his Department is responsible (a) went on to make a successful application for pension credit and (b) did not go on to make a successful application for pension credit;
	(3)  how many pensioners in each parliamentary constituency have received telephone calls since September 2003 from the Pension Service or other agencies for which his Department is responsible, inviting them to explore the possibility that they may be eligible for pension credit;
	(4)  how many telephone calls the Pension Service has made since September 2004 to invite pensioners to explore the possibility that they may be eligible for pension credit (a) after 6.30 pm on weekdays and (b) at weekends; and to which parliamentary constituencies those calls were made;
	(5)  how many pensioners in each parliamentary constituency have since October 2004 received (a) telephone calls and (b) letters from the Pension Service or other agencies for which his Department is responsible, inviting them to explore the possibility that they may be eligible for pension credit;
	(6)  what criteria are used by (a) the Pension Service and (b) other agencies for which his Department has responsibility to identify and approach people who have not applied for pension credit but might be eligible for it.

Malcolm Wicks: The table shows the number of calls about pension credit made by staff in the pension credit application line between April 2004, when such calls were first made, and February 2005. These calls were not made 'cold' but were either to pensioners who were judged likely to be eligible for pension credit to ask if they wish to apply, or to those who had been sent a completed application form to sign and return but had not yet done so. All those who receive a telephone call would already have received at least one letter about pension credit, including one informing them that a call might be made. It is not possible to break down the figures by constituency or the time at which they were made. Some calls about pension credit have also been made by departmental staff outside the pension credit application line. Figures for these are not available.
	The Pension Service uses a range of data to identify those who are potentially eligible for pension credit, including age, gender, marital status, receipt of housing benefit and council tax benefit and an affluence measure based on postcode. Information on the number of people who received a telephone call and went on to make a successful or unsuccessful application for pension credit is not available.
	The Pension Service issued 807,000 letters about pension credit between 1 October 2004 and 11 March 2005.
	
		Outbound telephone calls made by the pension credit application line, April 2004 to February 2005
		
			 Month Calls in which the relevant pensioner was contacted Calls not answered Total calls made 
		
		
			 April 2004 20,473 17,624 38,097 
			 May 2004 30,423 29,797 60,220 
			 June 2004 15,150 13,726 28,876 
			 July 2004 27,087 26,122 53,209 
			 August 2004 30,049 39,464 69,513 
			 September 2004 21,640 27,909 49,549 
			 October 2004 18,279 19,264 37,543 
			 November 2004 26,770 29,423 56,193 
			 December 2004 55,638 66,046 121,684 
			 January 2005 58,950 62,190 121,140 
			 February 2005 35,416 38,418 73,834 
			 Total 339,875 369,983 709,858

Pension Credit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the most recent take-up levels of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 68WS.

Pension Credit

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent take-up levels of pension credit are in each Inland Revenue district; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit in each Government Office region, constituency and local authority area at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February 2005. A copy of the report is in the Library.

State Pension Age

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to encourage people to work beyond state pension age if they choose to do so.

Malcolm Wicks: The number of people working past State Pension age has been increasing and now stands at one million. In our March publication Opportunity AgeMeeting the challenges of ageing in the 21st century, we confirmed our aspiration of increasing the number of older people in employment by a million.
	We are committed to giving people more choice about when and how they retire. For the first time ever, from this month we will offer people choosing to defer their State pension for a year or more the choice of either an enhanced weekly pension or a generous lump sum payment.

Pension Payments

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are using pension books to receive pension payments.

Chris Pond: Order books have now ended. All recipients of state pension have been converted to direct payment, whether direct into a bank or building society account or post office card account. The small number of customers that we cannot pay this way are being paid by cheque. No state pension payments after 28 February are due to be paid by order book, although order book foils can be cashed for up to three months after the date shown on the foil. Information on the number of people who retain order book foils yet to be cashed is not available.

Pension Payments

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK were receiving pension payments using pension books in the week beginning 21 March.

Chris Pond: Order books have ended. All recipients of state pension have been converted to direct payment, whether direct into a bank or building society account or Post Office card account, by the week beginning 7 March. The small number of customers that we cannot pay this way are being paid by cheque. No state pension payments after 28 February are due to be paid by order book, although order book foils can be cashed for up to three months after the date shown on the foil. Information on the number of people who retain order book foils yet to be cashed is not available.

Pensions

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people did not receive the full basic State Pension because of their contribution records in the latest year for which figures are available; and by what amount on average their pensions fell short of the basic state level.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 31 March 2004, 3,679,200 people in Great Britain received a basic State Pension at less than the full rate of 77.45 a week because of incomplete contribution records. On average the basic State Pension paid fell short of the full level of the basic State Pension by 27.54.
	Where the basic State Pension is the only source of income, extra help is available in the form of pension credit.
	Notes:
	1.Numbers are taken from a 5 per cent, sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation. 2.Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred. Amounts are rounded to the Nearest penny. 3.A basic State Pension is paid to those who fully or partially satisfy the contribution conditions for a Category A or CategoryB basic State Pension, either in their own right or, where applicable, on the basis of their late or former spouse's National Insurance contributions. 4.Numbers do not include people entitled to a basic State Pension which is then increased when they meet the conditions for a Category D Pension. 5.The calculation of the average amount of the shortfall excludes those receiving a basic State Pension of 77.45.
	Source:
	IAD Information centre 5 per cent, sample.

Benefit Claimants

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many men aged 50 to 64 years are on (a) unemployment benefits and (b) incapacity or other disability benefits.

Maria Eagle: As at 30 November 2004, there were 95,255 men aged between 50 and 64 claiming jobseekers allowance, 780,000 claiming incapacity benefits and 417,900 in receipt of disability living allowance.

Benefit Claimants

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed (a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability allowance in Leicester, South in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants in the Leicester South parliamentary constituency, at the dates shown -- Number
		
			 As at November IB/SDA IB SDA 
		
		
			 1997 4,900 4,300 600 
			 1998 4,700 4,200 600 
			 1999 4,700 4,200 600 
			 2000 4,900 4,400 500 
			 2001 5,400 4,800 500 
			 2002 5,500 5,000 (59)500 
			 2003 5,300 4,900 MOO 
			 2004 5,000 4,600 (59)500 
		
	
	(59)Are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance and credits only cases.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 percent. Samples.
	
		Disability living allowance claimants in the Leicester South parliamentary constituency, at the dates shown
		
			 As at November Number 
		
		
			 1997 3,500 
			 1998 3,700 
			 1999 3,700 
			 2000 3,900 
			 2001 4,000 
			 2002 4,000 
			 2003 4,300 
			 2004 4,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.Only disability living Allowance cases in payment are included.
	3.From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 percent. Samples.

Benefit Payments

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to suspend payments to claimants of benefits until they provide bank details;
	(2)  how many jobseeker's allowance claimants in (a) Sheffield and (b) the UK have had their benefits suspended until they have agreed to have their benefit paid into a bank or post office account.

Chris Pond: No payment has been suspended in Sheffield or elsewhere for failure to provide account details and currently there are no plans to do so.

Benefit Payments

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the role is of private sector companies in assisting benefit claimants in opening bank or post office accounts.

Chris Pond: The Department is working with a number of private sector providers and not-for-profit organisations to help convert people from order books and cheques to direct payment into a bank, building society or Post Office card account. The Department regularly works with such organisations who are able to focus tailored help on customers who are disadvantaged or facing particular difficulties. In particular, we have asked them to support customers who may not have been reached by our customer conversion centre or who might be finding it difficult to open a suitable account. This is part of our commitment to increasing financial inclusion and giving customers all the help, information and support they need to open the account which best meets their needs and circumstances.

Benefit Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of (a) the state pension, (b) jobseeker's allowance, (c) income support, (d) disability living allowance, (e) attendance allowance, (f) child benefit and (g) carer's allowance are receiving their payments via the Department's cheque-based service.

Chris Pond: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The information in the following table gives the number of benefit and pension accounts in receipt of the cheque method of payment as at 19 February 2005.
	
		
			  Number accounts paid by cheque 
		
		
			 Retirement pension 75,400 
			 Pension credit 157,055 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 105,590 
			 Income support 169,900 
			 Disability living allowance (DLA) 168,715 
			 Attendance allowance (AA) 27,970 
			 Carers allowance (CA) 0 
			 Total 704,630 
		
	
	The figures refer to accounts not claimants, a person with multiple benefits will be counted more than once.
	Child benefit figures are not included as they are the responsibility of Inland Revenue.

Benefit Payments

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the last date was for benefit payments covered by the last pension book issued before they were withdrawn;
	(2)  what the latest date is on which the last benefit payment might be made from a pensioner's passbook;
	(3)  on what day the last pension book was issued.

Chris Pond: The last pension order book was issued on 9 February 2005 and all order book production for The Pension Service ceased on 10 February. No payment due after 28 February will be paid by order book, although order book foils can be cashed for up to three months after the date shown on the foil. The last possible date for encashment of an order book foil is thus 31 May 2005.

Disabled People

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations made in the report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People.

Maria Eagle: This is an important report requiring action by a number of Departments. My Department is co-ordinating the overall implementation process. In particular we will be ensuring the involvement of disabled people and other relevant groups in this work, including the setting up of a national forum for disabled people. We have also set up the new Ministers Groupthe first meeting is later todayand we will be working closely with other Departments to establish early pilots to test out aspects of the recommendations.

Guarantee and Savings Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individuals and (b) households are in receipt of (i) guarantee credit only, (ii) savings credit only and (iii) both guarantee and savings credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table:
	
		Recipients of pension credit by type, Great Britain, 31 December 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 All 2,653,175 3,222,700 
			 Guarantee element only 767,985 948,070 
			 Guarantee element and savings  element combined 1,312,945 1,513,045 
			 Savings element only 572,245 761,580 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (GMS) data. Data taken as at 10 December 2004 have been rated up to give month end figures.
	2.Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
	3.Individual recipients may include a small number of partners under the age of 60.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample.

Incapacity Benefit

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the merits of extending mortgage assistance to those on incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: The Government believe that homeowners should take responsibility for ensuring that mortgage payments are made when they are unable to work.
	Help with mortgage interest is already available to those on incapacity benefit, who are also entitled to income related benefits. We believe that this is the best way of ensuring assistance is targeted at those who need it most.
	We have no plans to extend this assistance to non income-related benefits.

Jobcentres

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job centres there are in the UK; and how many are to be closed as part of the Jobcentre roll-out programme and centralisation of benefit processing.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. David Willetts dated 4 April 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of offices we have and the number that will close due to the roll-out of the new service and the centralisation of benefit processing. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	When Jobcentre Plus was formed in 2002 we inherited the infrastructure of the former Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency delivering services to people of working age. The estate comprised some 1,100 Jobcentres and 450 social security offices and was entirely unsuitable for delivering the new service and operating the new processes. Over a four year period we are introducing the new, integrated service across the country and we are acquiring, building and refurbishing premises to enable us to deliver the new service. Once the roll-out is completed nationwide the total number of outlets from which our services can be accessed is likely to be around 1000.
	A full list of sites already closed or planned for future closure as part of the Jobcentre Plus rollout programme can be found in the Library. This list includes a number of sites which are closing through merging with co-located offices. While the majority of these sites will be disposed of in due course, a number will be retained by Jobcentre Plus to accommodate non-customer facing activity.
	I should stress that this is a snapshot of our plans based on the best information available. The list of offices will inevitably change as we progress through rollout of the new, integrated service and continue to refine our plans for centralising benefit processing in Jobcentre Plus. For example, a significant number of the site closures are dependent on construction of new buildings or acquisition of new premises and these are often subject to delays and other issues.
	We continue to review the plans for our network, and will ensure that local stakeholders are kept informed of progress and any changes to our plans.
	I hope this is helpful.

New Deal

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the effect of the New Deal has been in Nottingham, North.

Jane Kennedy: The New Deal has had a major impact in my hon. Friend's constituency helping more than 3,400 people into work and helping to reduce the number of those long-term unemployed by 81 per cent. and long-term youth unemployment by 70 per cent.

New Deal

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) over 25s, (b) lone parents, (c) over 50s and (d) young people have participated in the New Deal in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since its inception.

Jane Kennedy: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  NDYP ND25plus NDLP  ND50plus 
			  Starts Jobs Starts Jobs Starts Jobs ND50plus EC starts (from April 2003) 
		
		
			 Jarrow 
			 1998 590 160 160 20 20 0   
			 1999 420 250 270 40 140 140   
			 2000 280 240 240 50 170 190 50  
			 2001 250 230 290 100 170 140 70  
			 2002 250 180 240 130 190 120 90  
			 2003 260 200 260 180 290 130 20 10 
			 2004 230 210 160 130 460 160  0 
			  
			 South Tyneside 
			 1998 2,680 760 870 80 60 20   
			 1999 1,750 1,050 1,330 220 460 400   
			 2000 1,210 1,040 940 250 550 550 230  
			 2001 1,090 920 1,060 380 670 510 320  
			 2002 1,080 800 1,120 560 820 450 340  
			 2003 1,120 880 980 690 1,080 540 90 210 
			 2004 980 820 760 550 1,620 720  160 
			 North East 
			 1998 16,030 3,810 6,310 450 440 130   
			 1999 12,720 7,750 8,790 1,660 3,290 2,390   
			 2000 9,410 7,710 4,340 1,600 3,210 3,030 1,450  
			 2001 8,120 6,880 5,790 2,300 4,200 3,140 2,290  
			 2002 7,440 5,970 5,480 3,090 5,730 3,650 2,160  
			 2003 7,470 5,870 4,450 3,200 6,880 3,840 450 1,140 
			 2004 6,510 5,450 3,280 2,550 10,620 4,660  950 
			  
			 Great Britain
			 1998 211,570 54,340 77,700 6,640 9,380 2,680   
			 1999 170,060 104,360 121,540 25,870 59,170 34,900   
			 2000 123,160 95,610 67,220 26,200 60,020 48,330 24,830  
			 2001 105,940 78,470 80,380 31,500 70,030 48,470 35,080  
			 2002 105,670 71,180 76,910 41,650 98,070 60,250 31,830  
			 2003 110,750 73,150 71,950 41,770 113,710 56,710 6,300 17,720 
			 2004 104,250 73,720 64,090 40,070 164,830 67,290  16,140 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The new deal for young people started in January 1998; new deal 25 plus started in July 1998; new deal for lone parents started in October 1998; new deal 50 plus started in April 2000.
	2.New deal 50 plus EC starts information gives the number of starts to employment credit up to March 2003.
	3.New deal 50 plus data are the number of people finding jobs from new deal 50 plus from April 2003. No starts information is available for new deal 50 plus from April 2003.
	4.All data are to December 2004.
	5.All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and for this reason, components may not necessarily sum to totals.
	6.South Tyneside information is given for the Jobcentre Plus district of Gateshead and South Tyneside.
	7.Information is for Great Britain rather than the UK as the Department's new deals do not operate in Northern Ireland.

New Deal

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in York have been assisted into work through the new deal.

Maria Eagle: The new deal has been a huge success, so far helping over 1.2 million people into work, including more than 2,000 people in York.
	Since 1997, in my hon. Friend's constituency, the new deal has helped to reduce long term adult unemployment by 88 per cent. and long term youth unemployment by 90 per cent.

Unemployment (Wirral, South)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on unemployment in Wirral South.

Jane Kennedy: In the last year alone overall unemployment in Wirral South fell by 10 per cent. and since 1997 it has fallen by around two-thirds, with long-term unemployment falling by 92 per cent. There are currently 750 people unemployed in Wirral South, roughly 1.7 per cent. of the total working-age population of that area.
	The improvements in the labour market in Wirral South and over the rest of the country over the last seven years have been principally due to our success in providing economic stability and sustained growth, as well as providing active help to unemployed people through programmes such as the new deal.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum and Immigration

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims are outstanding in the UK; and from which countries.

Des Browne: Information on asylum claims outstanding by nationality is unavailable and could be produced only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on the number of cases awaiting an initial decision or appeal outcome is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum and Immigration

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in custody serving sentences of more than four months imprisonment following conviction under section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004; and in which prisons each is being held.

Paul Goggins: Information on the number of people in custody who are serving sentences of more than four months imprisonment following conviction under Section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 is not available.
	Between 29 September 2004 and 19 March 2005 148 people have been convicted under Section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004. All those convicted have received custodial sentences.
	The figures provided are obtained from locally collated management information and may be subject to change.

Asylum and Immigration

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Home Department took to inform (a) Parliament and (b) the public of the changes to the immigration rules in respect of ECAA switching cases which were applied by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (i) from August 2003 until 10 February 2004 and (ii) from 10 February 2004 until 30 April 2004.

Des Browne: No changes to the Immigration Rules in respect of ECAA switching cases were made during either period.

Begging

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of individuals successfully prosecuted for begging in each year since 1990 have re-offended; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: No data are readily available on reconviction rates for those convicted of begging.
	Published reconviction rates are calculated using data from the Offenders Index. The Offenders Index only contains information on Standard List offences. Begging is not a Standard List offence.

Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies his Department has in place for supporting employees with cancer.

Fiona Mactaggart: Employees diagnosed as having cancer have access to support and advice from the Department's Welfare Services. This can cover both personal and work related matters. It can include home visits, discussions with family members and help in finding specialist support groups. Assistance can also be provided with planning for the financial implications of a long term illness or terminal illness.
	The Department would normally seek Occupational Health advice at an early stage when the diagnosis, or the severity of the condition, becomes known. The Occupational Health provider will advise on the functional effects of the condition. For employees able to continue working, the Department provides support in the workplace by making reasonable adjustments to working hours, duties and working practices.
	Employees who are on sick absence have a contractual entitlement to sick pay at a rate of full pay for six months and half pay for six months. After entitlement to contractual sick pay has been exhausted, an employee may be placed on sick pay at pension rate. This decision is taken on the advice of a medical officer in circumstances where it is envisaged the employee is likely to return to work within three months, or the ill-health retirement criteria are likely to be met. Entitlement is reviewed every three months.
	The Department will also consider medical/ill health retirement in cases of poor prognosis, significant functional impairment or proximity to normal retirement age.

Catering Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants andguests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Hospitality is classified as the provision of food and drink or entertainment to non-civil servants when it is not strictly necessary for the conduct of public business, but where to do so is nevertheless beneficial to the interests of the Department.
	Working lunches and refreshments are offered as a normal courtesy to visitors or made available to facilitate the efficient management of meetings.
	The total costs of hospitality and working lunches for the Home Office Department since 1997 are given in the table.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Hospitality 37,747 44,415 94,370 108,925 75,808 70,591 89,072 
			 Working lunches 346,685 92,916 457,147 511,610 572,279 727,354 1 ,330,997 
			 Total 386,429 139,329 553,516 622,535 650,088 799,947 1,422,072 
			 Percentage total spend 0.006 0.002 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.012 
		
	
	The records for hospitality costs do not distinguish between civil servants and guests. The costs for refreshments and working lunches are combined and therefore separate figures cannot be extracted.

CCTV

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what schemes are available to provide financial assistance for the extension of closed circuit television in town centres.

Hazel Blears: Previously, closed circuit television (CCTV) has been provided using a range of national and local funding streams. The principal fund has been the crime reduction programme from 1999 to 2003 which invested 170 million in CCTV schemes.
	Currently, crime reduction funding is allocated directly to local crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) through the building safer communities fund and to basic command unit (BCU) commanders through the BCU fund. These funding streams finance a variety of interventions, including CCTV, to tackle local crime priorities. Funding allocations are local decisions and are the responsibility of individual CDRPs and BCUs.

C-FAR

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the proportion of funding for C-FAR derived from Criminal Justice Service sources; and if he will implement the concept of full cost recovery in support of C-FAR's work.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 14 March 2005
	To date the Home Office has given 570,000 and pledged 150,000 for 200506 to C-FAR. Given the decision taken by C-FAR's Trustees on 8 March to close the centre on 11 March 2005, the Home Office will not be providing further funding. The Home Office is committed to implementing the concept of full cost recovery for all the organisations that it funds.

Chartered Aircraft

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money his Department has spent on chartering aircraft in each of the past five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/private charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas.
	Copies of the lists are available in the Library. Information for 200405 will be published in due course.
	For operational reasons the Home Office uses charter aircraft as a means of removing failed asylum seekers and other immigration offenders when there is no availability of seats on scheduled aircraft. They are also used for removals to destinations that carriers from the United Kingdom currently do not operate.
	Charter flights have been used to remove failed asylum seekers since March 2001. The cost of charters since 2002 are given in the table:
	
		
			  Expenditure  million 
		
		
			 200203 1,968,025 
			 200304 1,226,972 
		
	
	Figures for 200102 are not available as they were not separated from other public expense removal costs.

Conviction Times

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time between the reporting of a crime and securing a conviction was in (a) 1998, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 March 2005
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Deaths Abroad

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquests have been held in the UK regarding violent or suspicious deaths abroad in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: Statistics on inquests held on those who die overseas are not collected centrally.
	However, I can draw the hon. Member's attention to the figures quoted in Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: The Report of a Fundamental Review 2003. [Cm 5831] This independent Review commissioned its own one-off research which concluded that, in the previous 12 months, about 550 deaths abroad were the subject of an inquest when the body was returned to the UK.

Departmental Accounts

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Ministers in his Department have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: No such directions have been issued by Home Office Ministers since 1997.
	The Treasury, which has a wider policy responsibility for the financial accountability mechanisms under which such directions are issued, has not been notified of any directions by Ministers in Departments to their accounting officers beyond those already disclosed to Parliament in the following written answers:
	The former Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Andrew Smith) on 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 73W and 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 253W, myself on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1037W, the Economic Secretary (John Healey) on 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 413W and 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 618W and the former Financial Secretary (Ruth Kelly) on 30 October 2003, Official Report, columns 31920W and 24 March 2004, Official Report, column 841W.
	The circumstances in which an accounting officer should seek a direction from a Minister before authorising expenditure are set out in paragraphs 1518 of the Treasury document, The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer (as updated in March 2004). This document is published as Annex 4.1 of the Treasury guidance, Government Accounting and is accessible at www.government-accounting.gov.uk

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence.

Fiona Mactaggart: Home Office rules provide for the reimbursement of extra expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out official duty and in certain other specified circumstances. The overriding principle is that: where no extra expense is incurred no reimbursement is due. Overall expenditure on travel and subsistence is controlled through devolved budgets that enable managers to keep under review both the need for official travel and the economy of the travel arrangements. Managers are required to satisfy themselves that, for instance, regular travel commitments or programmes cannot be curtailed or reorganised, that meetings involving costly travel are really necessary, that the venue is appropriate, that only the necessary numbers of staff attend; and consider the desirability of requiring their staff to declare their forward visit proposals for prior approval. Where staff undertake necessary official travel, managers are required to ensure that they do so by the most efficient and economic means, taking all costs into account.
	Travel costs for the core Home Office have been held centrally only since 1996; totals as follows:
	
		
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Helicopter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Travel 3,898,126 3,270,766 3,187,174 4,245,879 6,348,417 8,732,248 12,406,053 
			 Hire car 223,585 158,266 228,841 281,549 785,179 1,782,070 1,912,341 
			 Subsistence 5,737,985 1,366,151 1,729,980 3,260,704 3,920,093 5,267,013 6,459,101 
			 Total 9,861,693 4,797,181 5,147,994 7,790,132 11,055,690 15,783,333 20,779,498 
			 Percentage of total spend 0.14% 0.06% 0.06% 0.09% 0.11% 0.15% 0.06% 
		
	
	The marked increases in travel costs since 2001 can largely be attributed to changes in strategy within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) where increased staff numbers and the need to travel as a result of new policy initiatives to improve IND performance and reductions in unauthorised entry to the UK. Other contributing factors have been related to providing advice to the organisers of the 2002 Football World Cup in Japan and Euro 2004 in Portugal and the creation of new units to support the police reform agenda.
	Hotel accommodation costs and subsistence payments are recorded together against a general subsistence account on the General Ledger. Examination and extraction of hotel elements from T and S claims and the expenses payment system could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Fiona Mactaggart: All categories of overseas visit require prior authorisation through the normal line management chain and are required to accord with Cabinet Office guidelines and the Home Office Overseas Travel Guide. In approving an overseas visit careful regard is given to the objective of the visit in relation to the guidelines and in particular, the benefit that will accrue to the Department in relation to the cost.
	The total cost of overseas travel for the Home Department since 1997 are given in the table.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Flights 168,342 192,583 314231 427627 517,073 381,706 415,106 
			 Hotels 132,069 34,672 8,392 6,983 119,034 266,925 559,039 
			 Subsistence 1,442,337 919,494 826,066 1,008,356 1,857,705 2,553,769 4,249,782 
			 Travel 1,011,383 706,482 1,119,345 943,075 1,628,786 1,959,965 4,010,948 
			 Total 2,756,128 1,855,229 2,270,033 2,388,041 4,124,599 5,164,367 9,236,878 
			 Percentage total spend 0.04 0.024 0.029 0.025 0.04 0.05 0.08 
		
	
	The cost of overseas internal travel is not recorded separately and is incorporated within the travel totals given in the table. Similarly, the number of overseas journeys is not recorded separately within the claims calculation process; it would not be possible to extract these aspects of from the data provided without interrogating the paper claim records, this could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The marked increases in travel costs since 2001 can largely be attributed to changes in strategy within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate where increased staff numbers and the need to travel as a result of new policy initiatives to improve IND performance and reductions in unauthorised entry to the UK. Other contributing factors have been related to providing advice to the organisers of the 2002 Football World Cup in Japan and Euro 2004 in Portugal and the creation of new units to support the police reform agenda.
	Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House.
	Information for the financial year 200405 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.

Drug-related Arrests

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many arrests have been made for (a) possession and (b) supply of (i) cannabis and (ii) class A drugs in the last two years;
	(2)  how many arrests have been made for (a) possession and (b) supply of (i) cannabis and (ii) class A drugs in London in each month since January 2004.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not available centrally.
	Information on arrests collected centrally is based on persons arrested for notifiable offences by main offence group only and therefore does not identify individual offences. The data are also only available by police force area and collected on a quarterly basis.

Drugs Crime (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crack houses have been closed down in (a) Leeds and (b) Leeds West in the last 12 months; how many of these were part of Operation Crackdown; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Data are not centrally collected on a city-by-city basis. The latest national information available on crack house closure orders relates to Government Office regions for the period 20 January to end September 2004, when there were four reported uses of the crack house anti-social behaviour power in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
	West Yorkshire police are one of 33 forces who are participating in the national enforcement campaign Operation Crackdown. However information requested is not collated regionally or by force but 75 crack houses have been closed by Crackdown forces during the period 12 January to 7 March 2005.

EU Business Applications

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for the right of establishment in business under EU association agreements submitted by or on behalf of persons who had already arrived in the UK under other immigration categories were received between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004, broken down by nationality of the applicant; and how many applications were (a) granted, (b) refused, (c) withdrawn and (d) otherwise disposed of.

Des Browne: According to internal management information and accordingly provisional, between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004 there were 18,565 applications for the right of establishment in business under EC Association Agreements received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, submitted by or on behalf of persons who had already arrived in the UK under other immigration categories. The table shows this total figure broken down by nationality of the applicant and by the outcome of the case.
	
		
			 Nationality of applicant Total switching(60) cases received 1 June 2003 to 30 April 2004 Granted Refused Withdrawn by applicant Other(61) 
		
		
			 Bulgaria 1,999 1,621 226 57 95 
			 Czech Rep 143 113 3 21 6 
			 Estonia 166 131 7 21 7 
			 Hungary 79 65 1 13 0 
			 Latvia 875 656 78 117 24 
			 Lithuania 4,677 3,715 188 584 190 
			 Poland 8,158 5,823 613 1,608 114 
			 Romania 1,644 1,259 269 24 92 
			 Slovakia 193 167 6 19 1 
			 Slovenia 3 3 0 0 0 
			 Turkey 628 398 61 15 154 
			 Total 18,565 13,951 1,452 2,479 683 
		
	
	(60)The term switching refers to those applicants who were already in the UK in another immigration category, or without valid leave to enter or remain.
	(61)Category of 'other' includes all outcomes possible on the General Casework Information Database apart from granted, refused and withdrawn by applicant. This includes applications received in the specified period against which no outcome is yet recorded, and applications received in the specified period against which an outcome was recorded after 30 September 2004.
	Note:
	Numbers of applications granted, refused, withdrawn by applicant or 'other' relate only to applications received by IND between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004.

EU Business Applications

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment whether he has received reports of applications for the right of establishment in business under EU association agreements having been granted in error between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004.

Des Browne: None other than the report by Ken Sutton published on 17 June 2004, which confirmed that there was clear evidence that the ECAA category had been exploited and that applications were granted from some individuals who were unlikely to have been able to demonstrate that they could sustain themselves in business.

EU Business Applications

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for the right of establishment in business under EU association agreements were refused between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004, broken down by (a) reason for refusal and (b) nationality of the applicant.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 482W.

EU Business Applications

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for the right of establishment in business under EU association agreements were submitted using standard-form business plans identical or materially similar to those submitted by other such applicants between 1 June 2003 and 30 April 2004; and how many were refused on these grounds (a) in total and (b) broken down by nationality of the applicant.

Des Browne: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

G8 Summit

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to provide financial support to police authorities which will be required to organise additional security for G8 summit events.

Hazel Blears: Police authorities are normally expected to have reserves for exceptional events. They may apply for special grant to assist with additional costs of policing exceptional events like G8.

HMP/YOI Parc

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at HMP and YOI Parc were (a) being held on remand and (b) awaiting sentence on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: As of 24 March 2005 there were 91 prisoners being held on remand or awaiting trial, and 44 prisoners awaiting sentence.

HMP/YOI Parc

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what separate provision is made for health care services for young offenders at HMP and YOI Parc.

Paul Goggins: There is no separate health care provision for young offenders at HMP and YOI Parc. When necessary, both adults and young offenders reside in the health care facility. In such circumstances independent approved regimes are operated so that separation is maintained.

HMP/YOI Parc

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places the Youth Justice Board has contracted to be available at HMP and YOI Parc; in each year for which figures are available; and what the average occupancy rate has been in each of those years.

Paul Goggins: The number of places the Youth Justice Board has contracted to be available at HMP and YOI Parc is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 March 2002 to September 2004 28 
			 October 2004 to present 36 
		
	
	The average monthly occupancy rate in each of the years during this period has been:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 April 2002 to March 2003 19 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 17 
			 April 2004 to September 2004 20 
			 October 2004 to February 2005 28

HMP/YOI Parc

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on inpatient juvenile health care provision at HMP and YOI Parc; and how many of those detained have been moved elsewhere for treatment in each year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The Youth Justice Board has invested in HMP and YOI Parc in order to enhance the care and accommodation that is offered to juveniles. Service improvements have included three discrete inpatient beds, together with a small day room, dedicated for use solely by juveniles. This facility opened in October 2004. In addition, since December 2004, a dedicated Juvenile Support Nurse has been in post and based within the Juvenile Unit. The Youth Justice Board has also funded a substance misuse manager and worker, in order to ensure implementation of the YJB's National Specification for Substance Misuse. As a direct result of the YJB's investment, there should be a significant reduction in transfers of juveniles from Parc as a result of health needs.
	During 2004 three juveniles were moved elsewhere for treatment, two requiring admission as in-patients in outside hospitals. The remaining prisoner was transferred because of mental health issues.
	Records are unavailable for preceding years.

HMP/YOI Parc

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquest reports the Prison Service has received since January 2003 following deaths in custody at HMP and YOI Parc; and how many reports are outstanding.

Paul Goggins: A total of nine inquests have taken place since January 2003 in respect of deaths in custody at HMP and YOI Parc. Six of these deaths occurred after January 2003. There are no inquests at present which remain outstanding.

Home Detention

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2005, Official Report, column 393W, on home detention curfew, how many of the people released under the Home Detention Scheme have gone on to re-offend within (a) two months, (b) four months, (c) six months, (d) a year and (e) two years.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 23 March 2005
	Information on re-offending within the particular periods requested is not available.

Identity Theft

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps individuals can take to prevent identity theft.

Des Browne: The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee, a collaboration of Government Departments and private sector organisations, has produced a website (www.identitytheft.org.uk) which offers advice on how individuals can protect their identity. This includes keeping personal information secure, keeping plastic cards safe and being careful when giving out card details, looking after important documents and destroying unwanted documents, and advice on use of passwords.
	In the longer term, the introduction of ID cards issued on a more secure basis than current passports and driving licences will provide people with a highly effective way of protecting their identity from misuse.

Identity Theft

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) remedies and (b) penalties are available in the event of identity theft; and what steps are taken to restore misappropriated property used in identity theft to the owner.

Des Browne: It is not a criminal offence for a person simply to use another identity. However, false identities are often used to facilitate criminal activity such as deception, fraud, theft and money laundering. The Identity Cards Bill currently before Parliament includes a new offence of being in possession or control of false identity documents, including a genuine document that relates to someone else, without reasonable excuse. The proposed maximum penalty for this offence is two years imprisonment. It will also be an offence for a person to possess these documents with the intention of using the document for establishing registrable facts about himself, or allowing or inducing another to use it for establishing, ascertaining or verifying registrable facts about himself. The proposed maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment.
	Subject to the needs of any criminal investigation and prosecution, the police will make any property that comes into their possession available to the rightful owner.

Iran

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 15 March 2005, Official Report, column 191W, on Iran, what action the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has taken to secure responses from the Iranian Government.

Des Browne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) continues to encourage the Iranian embassy to issue Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) at the earliest opportunity through regular reviews of all cases with the Consul. These vary in frequency between one week and 13 weeks dependant on the case and the quality of documentation that is submitted as proof of the subject's nationality and identity.
	The purpose of each review with the Consul is to secure the issue of an ETD for a subject. The Iranian embassy requires the submission of specific evidence of nationality and identity including expired passports, birth certificates, identity cards and other original official Iranian documentation. Irrespective of the number of reviews that are held with the embassy, if the required documentation is not available, then it is virtually impossible to secure an ETD to effect a removal.

Iran

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made by his Department to the Iranian Government for passports or other travel documentation to facilitate the repatriation of failed asylum seekers in each of the last five years; and how many have been granted in each of those years.

Des Browne: Applications for travel documents are not annotated with a person's immigration status. Consequently it is not possible to differentiate between the number of applications submitted to the Iranian Government/Embassy to repatriate failed asylum seekers from those required to return other immigration offenders.
	Prior to 2003, there were no applications made to the Iranian Government as removals could be effected by EU letter.
	In 2003, 24 applications for travel documents were submitted and three were issued.
	In 2004, 60 applications for travel documents were submitted and six were issued.
	To date in 2005, five applications for travel documents have been made and three issued.
	The above statistics are from internal management information and are therefore subject to change.

Knife Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife attacks, including those which did not result in homicide, were reported in each year since 1995.

Hazel Blears: The number of offences involving knives is not separated out in the recorded crime statistics. Therefore no information is available on knife offences causing serious or minor injury. The Homicide Index holds details on the number of homicides where the apparent method of killing was the use of a sharp instrument. The available information from 1995 to 200304 is given in the table.
	
		Number of homicides(62)involving the use of a sharp instrument
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 243 
			 1996 197 
			 1997 200 
			 199798 202 
			 199899 202 
			 19992000 213 
			 200001 214 
			 200102 261 
			 200203 268 
			 200304 237 
		
	
	(62)As at 22 October 2004; these figures relate to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

Migrant Workers

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Department's records identify the top 10 employers of migrant labour.

Des Browne: No. The Home Office holds records that can identify the top 10 employers who have applied to take on individuals from outside of the European Economic Area under the work permit scheme and those who use the seasonal agricultural workers scheme. These do not, however, include those employers who employ people from overseas who have permission to work in the UK under other schemes.

Ministerial Private Office Telephone Numbers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to inform the House authorities of the new telephone numbers for ministerial private offices in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: Notifications have now been sent to all Members in both Houses.

Motor Vehicle Seizure

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Police Reform Act 2002 in regard to the seizure of motor vehicles.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 21 March 2005
	Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, which came into effect in January 2003, gives the police a power to seize vehicles being driven off-road without authority or on-road inconsiderately or without due care and attention if they are at the same time causing alarm, distress or annoyance.
	The police welcomed the new provision in principle. They have been gradually developing policies and practices to ensure its best use, and we are aware of a number of instances where it has been employed effectively. With the Association of Chief Police Officers and practitioners on the ground we have been looking at whether there is any need for further clarification of the power, guidance on its use or amendments to the secondary legislation governing its technical aspects.

Non-geographic Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2005 to Question 205820, what steps his Department has taken to cease entirely the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for (a) Core Home Office services and (b) the Prison Service; and what steps were taken in the recent renegotiation of contracts for telephone lines at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to cease entirely the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 21 March 2005
	The information requested is as follows:
	(a) A review of the use of an 0870 number for the main Home Office public enquiry service is under way and is due to be completed in May 2005. Alternative options being considered include 0845, 0800, and a geographical number.
	(b) Her Majesty's Prison Service have changed the 0870 number in use at Her Majesty's Prison Holloway to an 0800 number, but have no plans to discontinue the use of the 0870 number for their public enquiry service.
	The renegotiation of the telephony contract for the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB) did not include changing the 0870 number. Currently a review of the operation of INEB is being conducted, and will consider whether continued use of the 0870 number is appropriate.

Oakington Detention Centre

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take following the broadcasting of inappropriate and offensive language being used by staff at Oakington detention centre.

Des Browne: holding answer 8 March 2005
	As I announced on 8 March 2005, Official Report, column94WS, I have asked the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Stephen Shaw, to carry out an independent inquiry into the allegations contained in the programme.

Parole

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methods are used for tracking prisoners on parole; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Before an offender is released from prison on parole licence, the local probation officer prepares a risk management plan to facilitate the resettlement of the offender into the community and to minimise the risk to the public.
	The plan may contain conditions to constrain the activities of the offender, relating for example to employment restrictions, residence, treatment for addictions, a curfew, or exclusion from certain places. The probation officer will manage the components of the plan in conjunction with other agencies. If there are curfew or exclusion conditions, these can be electronically monitored by private contractors who will work closely with the probation officer.
	In three areas of the country (Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Hampshire), management of the exclusion conditions can be enhanced by satellite tracking using global positioning by satellite (GPS) technology. This will provide the probation officer with evidence of any breach of the exclusion zones. This is a one year pilot which began in September 2004 and is being independently evaluated. A total of 94 offenders have been tracked in the pilot, and two of them have been subject to parole licence.

Police

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of translation services was for each police force in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Police Funding

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated to the police in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 December 2004
	Government grant to support policing in England and Wales since 1997 is set out in the table.
	
		 million
		
			  Home Office police grant National non-domestic rates(63)(5507620064) Revenue support grant(63)(5507620064) Total other grants(65) Capital grants(66) Total 
		
		
			 199798 3,473 1,035 1,516 - 170 6,194 
			 199899 3,649 1,027 1,525 - 143 6,344 
			 19992000 3,698 1,106 1,541 - 147 6,492 
			 200001 3,823 1,201 1,486 73 143 6,726 
			 200102(67) 3,955 1,214 1,596 229 221 7,215 
			 200203 4,005 1,311 1,504 349 316 7,485 
			 200304 4,288 770 2,055 658 306 8,077 
			 200405 4,380 744 2,222 708 261 8,315 
			 200506 4,574 877 2,244 766 255 8,716 
		
	
	(63)Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and National Assembly for Wales.
	(64)Revenue Support Grant (RSG) includes SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection grant. RSG and NNDR for the City of London Police is provided in respect of all its functions.
	(65)Specific grants since 200001 for targeted programmes.
	(66)Capital grants include Home Office police capital grant, supplementary credit approvals, Air Support, Premises Improvement Fund, Airwave capital and C3i. The figures included substantial capital for Airwave in 200102 (74.3 million), 200203 (101.2 million) and 200203 (75.9 million). Totals up to 200102 include an element for major capital schemes allocated under the Priority Planning List (PPL) scheme.
	(67)The grant figures for 200102 and 200203 are not directly comparable, owing to changes from 200203 in the method of funding the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

Police Funding

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the funding of Staffordshire police since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table.
	
		 million
		
			  General Government grants(68) Specific grants(69) Capital grant(70) 
		
		
			 199798 96.1 0 2.6 
			 200506 113.3 9.1 2.0 
		
	
	(68)Includes Home Office principal police grant, ODPM Revenue Support Grant and redistributed business rates.
	(69)Includes funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, Basic Command Unit funding, Community Support Officer funding, Neighbourhood Policing Fund, Special Priority Payments DNA Expansion Programme, capital provision (including Supplementary Credit Approvals) and Airwave.
	(70)Capital grant in 199798 includes 1.5 million paid to Staffordshire Police Authority under the then arrangements to provide additional support for a limited number of major capital schemes each year. In addition, the Authority received Supplementary Credit Approvals of 1.6 million in 199798 and 1.2 million in 200506 for grant supported borrowing.

Police Information Technology Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the McFarland Report on the performance and structure of the Police Information Technology Organisation.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 24 March 2005
	The Review's report has been completed and is currently being considered by Ministers. A ministerial statement will be made to Parliament in due course. Copies of the final report will then be available in the Library.

Police Officers (Northumbria)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there have been in (a) the South Tyneside Area Command and (b) Northumbria in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The latest figures on police strength by Basic Command Unit were published as supplementary data on the Home Office/Research Development and Statistics website.
	The information requested is given in the table:
	
		
			  Police officers 
			 As at 31 March South Tyneside(71) Northumbria 
		
		
			 1997  3,677 
			 1998  3,769 
			 1999  3,840 
			 2000  3,788 
			 2001  3,857 
			 2002 268 3,929 
			 2003 (72)291 (72)4,018 
			 2004 (72)303 (72)4,061 
		
	
	(71)Figures not available prior to 2002.
	(72)Not comparable with earlier years' dataincludes officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.

Police Recruitment

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase diversity in the recruitment of police officers.

Hazel Blears: We have established national recruitment standards with a view to minimising adverse impact on any group. In the Police Reform Act 2002 we removed the requirement for recruits to be citizens of the United Kingdom. We have amended fitness standards to reduce adverse impact on women applicants.
	We have produced materials for forces to use in recruitment campaigns which promote diversity within the police service and we have supported projects in six forces to improve recruitment from ethnic minority communities.
	In the White Paper Building communities, beating crime we announced additional measures including recruitment of people with operationally valuable language skills and recruitment at senior levels.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the total running costs of the Serious Organised Crime Agency over (a) the first year and (b) the first 10 years of operation.

Caroline Flint: The costs for the first year of the Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) operation will be met by transferring the provision which would have otherwise have been made for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Crime Squad under SR 2004. These organisations become part of SOCA on 1 April 2006. In addition negotiations are currently taking place with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise as to the funds to accompany the posts to be transferred to SOCA from that Department. A total of approximately 1.6 million resource will be transferred from the United Kingdom Immigration Service to cover the posts currently based in the Immigration Service which will transfer to SOCA.
	Additional transition costs to be met from the Home Office SR 2004 settlement have yet to be determined.
	Subsequent funding will be decided under the SR 2006 bidding round.

Student Visas

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions officials in his Department had with (a) universities, (b) Ministers and officials in the Department for Education and Skills and (c) Ministers and officials in the Foreign Office prior to his announcement on 8 February of his plans to abolish the appeals service for international students who are refused visas.

Des Browne: 'Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain' the Government's five-year strategy for asylum and immigration, is the product of a review of the whole immigration and asylum system, including appeal rights and the appeals system. The strategy sets out proposals on appeals including the removal of appeal rights for those refused an entry clearance overseas for the purpose of study in the United Kingdom. This was agreed across Government, including the Department for Education and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, prior to its publication on 7 February.
	There were no discussions with universities prior to the publication of the strategy about the decision to abolish appeals rights for students refused visas.

War Criminals

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the UK policy is on granting (a) residence permits, (b) asylum and (c) citizenship to alleged war criminals; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government's policy that the UK should not provide a safe haven for alleged war criminals was set out in the 2002 White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven. The Government are committed to making wider use of existing immigration and nationality powers to prevent suspected war criminals and those who may have committed crimes against humanity from entering the UK or from establishing themselves here. These powers include the ability to refuse leave to enter or remain on the grounds that the person's presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good, to refuse or deprive an individual of British citizenship and to exclude individuals from refugee protection if there are serious reasons for considering that they have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Area Planning and Development Partnerships

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Area Planning and Development Partnerships of the Department of Education as defined by the Costello Working Party recommendations were established; who the members are of each partnership; and whether the Department of Education is meeting the implementation process timetable.

Barry Gardiner: No such groups have been established. Collaboration among schools and between schools and further education colleges will secure access to the Entitlement Framework for all pupils and will be developed at local level. The arrangements to take this forward are expected to be included in forthcoming guidance to schools and managing authorities. The Government remain on course to implement new post-primary arrangements after the last transfer tests in 2008.

Assets Recovery Agency

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget for the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) was for (a) 200304 and (b) 200405; how many personnel are employed by the ARA; and what plans the Government have to change the ARA's budget for the 200506 financial year.

Ian Pearson: The ARA budget for 200304 was 13 million (NI allocation: 2.071 million) and 15.5 million in 200405 (NI allocation: 2.326 million). The ARA has 163 staff in total and currently employs 30 personnel in its Belfast office who progress NI specific investigations.
	The 200506 budget for ARA has been maintained at the 200405 level. Additional funds will arise out of 200405 end year flexibility, but this will not be confirmed until later in the year. The ARA is planning to increase the number of investigators and lawyers working on NI investigations.

Belfast (Renewal)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been received under the Neighbourhood Renewal Phase Two in (a) North Belfast, (b) Inner West Belfast and (c) Outer West Belfast; how many of these are being assessed; and how many have been granted.

John Spellar: This information is set out in the table:
	
		
			  North Inner West Outer West 
		
		
			 Total number of  applications received 77 119 46 
			 Number being assessed 21 32 6 
			 Number granted 2 1 0

Braille Books

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Braille books are available in schools and libraries managed by each Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland; and how much has been spent in each board in each of the last five years to provide books for readers suffering from sight loss.

Barry Gardiner: Education and Library Boards assess and make provision for pupils with special educational needs on an individual basis.
	The Western Education and Library Board has advised that one pupil has required books to be provided in Braille and the cost of Braille books for this pupil is 300. In addition a classroom assistant has prepared Braille materials for the pupil. Materials required for Braille preparation during the past five years have been as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Braille paper 730 
			 Zytex paper (used for making raised diagrams) 700 
		
	
	Due to the diverse nature of the provision for pupils with sight loss the remaining Education and Library Boards cannot quantify funding levels, since provision is made from a range of funding streams.
	The Education and Library Boards are also responsible for provision of both the Public Library Service and the School Library Service but do not purchase any Braille books, and none is held in stock. However Braille books can be obtained on request from the Royal National Institute for the Blind for users of the service.
	Expenditure by each Education and Library Board on the provision of books and services for readers suffering from sight loss is detailed in the following table.
	
		Total spend on books(73) for blind and visually impaired users in public libraries and in school libraries by ELB by year -- 
		
			  Public libraries School libraries 
		
		
			 BELB   
			 200001 11,635 (74)n/a 
			 200102 11,053 (74)n/a 
			 200203 141,580 (74)n/a 
			 200304 86,560 (74)n/a 
			 200405 31,106 (74)n/a 
			
			 SELB   
			 200001 18,650 10,474 
			 200102 17,970 7,028 
			 200203 21,733 11,406 
			 200304 41,069 10,786 
			 200405 7,839 8,741 
			
			 NEELB   
			 200001 39,097 2,045 
			 200102 (75)36,177 2,791 
			 200203 117,164 3,841 
			 200304 78,967 1,742 
			 200405 38,484 510 
			 SEELB   
			 200001 n/a n/a 
			 200102 n/a n/a 
			 200203 n/a n/a 
			 200304 154,205 5,962 
			 200405 22,258 1,361 
			
			 WELB   
			 200001 11,785 460 
			 200102 22,497 158 
			 200203 44,426 132 
			 200304 143,075 2,065 
			 200405 77,135 4,070 
		
	
	(73)Stock includes:
	Books in large print
	Books on tape/CD
	RNIB talking books.
	National Library for the Blind (Braille Subscriptions)
	(74)Belfast Education and Library Board cannot exclusively identify expenditure on services for the blind and visually impaired in schools.
	(75)Figure includes estimates.

BSE

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many confirmed cases of BSE were recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: The number of confirmed cases of BSE recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is detailed in the following table. The table provides a breakdown of the number of cases identified through normal statutory reporting of BSE suspects (passive surveillance) and those cases identified as a result of the surveillance testing programmes (active surveillance) in operation in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  Passive surveillance Active surveillance Number of BSE cases 
		
		
			 2000 22 54 76 
			 2001 29 40 69 
			 2002 33 70 103 
			 2003 11 51 62 
			 2004 8 26 34 
			 2005 (At 18 March 2005) 1 6 7

Compensation Payments

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public compensation has been paid in the last 30 years to families of (a) the regular Army, (b) full-time and part-time UDR and RIR, (c) RUC and full-time and part-time reserve, (d) the Northern Ireland Prison Service, (e) the Northern Ireland fire service and (f) the ambulance service who have been killed or injured by acts of terrorism.

John Spellar: This is an operational responsibility of the Compensation Agency. The chief executive has advised me that the information requested is not available and because of the normal file destruction policy a partial answer could be compiled only at a disproportionate cost.

Conservation

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for how many areas of special scientific interest (ASSI) in Northern Ireland conservation objectives have been prepared in accordance with the requirements set out in guidance issued by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in 2003 on Common Standards Monitoring for Sites of Special Scientific Interest and ASSIs; and when he expects conservation objectives to be completed for all ASSIs in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Of the 220 ASSIs presently designated as of 24 March 2005, 214 sites already have conservation objectives. It is planned to complete conservation objectives for the remaining six sites in 200506.

Cross-border Bodies

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the administration costs of (a) the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat and (b) each of the cross-border bodies have been in each year since their formation; and what the outturn against planned expenditure was in each of these years.

Paul Murphy: The details requested are set out in the following tables:
	
		(a) North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat Annual Administration costs(76)
		
			   
		
		
			 2000 740,502 
			 2001 1,574,270 
			 2002 1,039,693 
			 2003 1,025,410 
			 2004 1,059,278 
		
	
	(76)These figures include Northern and Southern contributions to administration costs.
	
		Annual Administration Costs of Each Cross Border Body -- 
		
			 (b) Body 2000(77) 2001 2002 2003 2004(78) 
		
		
			 Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission 836,305 933,784 973,974 1,107,360 1,131,655 
			 Waterways Ireland 3,692,063 5,843,392 6,450,134 9,638,986 10,385,374 
			 The Trade and Business Development Body 537,988 961,286 1,349,746 l,530,941 1,631,431 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 525,105 736,305 1,122,472 1,284,631 (79) 
			 The North/South Language Body(80) l,389,299 1,516,584 1,780,976 2,061,449 2,322,893 
			 The Food Safety Promotion Board l65,000 504,000 749,000 1,236,000 1,357,000 
			 Tourism Ireland Limited n/a 101,456 7,400,230 8,608,667 8,922,000 
		
	
	(77)This covers the period 2 December 1999 to 31 December 2000.
	(78)The figures for 2004 are provisional as the accounts are still in preparation.
	(79)The Special European Programmes Body draft Accounts for 2004 are still in preparation.
	(80)The figures quoted for the North/South Language Body for the years 200104 are based on unaudited accounts.
	
		(c) NSMC Joint Secretariat (North) Budget and Outturn(81) -- 
		
			  Budget Outturn 
		
		
			 200001 805,000 752,886 
			 200102 820,000 782,705 
			 200203 735,000 606,888 
			 200304 642,000 582,125 
			 200405 602,000 (82) 
		
	
	(81)These figures are the Northern Ireland Budget and Outturn only.
	(82)The outturn figure for 200405 is still in preparation.
	
		Cross Border Bodies Budget and Outturn -- 
		
			 (d) Body 2000(83) 2001 2002 2003 2004(84) 
		
		
			 Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission  
			 Budget 1,954,000 2,452,000 3,382,000 3,847,000 3,550,000 
			 Outturn 1,359,000 1,604,000 1,807,000 1,921,000 2,350,000 
			   
			 Waterways Ireland  
			 Budget 10,780,000 18,820,000 21,990,000 22,610,000 31,710,000 
			 Outturn 9,504,687 14,031,989 17,438,466 18,569,245 22,895,379 
			   
			 The Trade and Business Development Body  
			 Budget 9,000,000 9,000,000 9,000,000 9,000,000 9,000,000 
			 Outturn 1,842,000 2,768,000 5,199,000 6,145,000 6,629,000 
			   
			 Special EU Programmes Body  
			 Budget 2,000,000 2,308,000 1,750,000 2,020,000 2,195,000 
			 Outturn 839,419 1,809,101 1,811,475 1,830,432 (85) 
			   
			 The North/South Language Body4  
			 Budget 8,180,243 11,717,150 12,282,700 13,294,790 15,062,500 
			 Outturn 7,469,630 10,241,877 12,528,077 13,656,581 15,004,959 
			   
			 The Food Safety Promotion Board  
			 Budget 2,327,000 5,115,000 5,291,000 5,972,000 6,167,000 
			 Outturn 1,742,000 2,662,000 3,969,000 5,600,000 5,950,000 
			   
			 Tourism Ireland Limited  
			 Budget n/a No budget set 7,864,000 8,453,000 9,058,000 
			 Outturn n/a 101,456 7,400,230 8,608,000 8,922,000 
		
	
	(83)This covers the period 2 December 1999 to 31 December 2000.
	(84)The figures for 2004 are provisional as the accounts have yet to be finalised.
	(85)The Special European Programmes Body draft Accounts for 2004 are still in preparation.
	(86)The figures quoted for the North/South Language Body for the years 200104 are based on unaudited accounts.

Education (False Sexual Allegations)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements the South Eastern Education and Library Board made to educate a child at a private school as a consequence of a false sexual abuse allegation by the pupil against a teacher; whether a grant was paid to (a) the family and (b) a school; what the consequences were for the teacher who was falsely accused; whether the Department of Education or the Board have taken steps to rehabilitate the teacher; whether he will be paid compensation; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the teacher concerned pleaded guilty to assault of a pupil but not, I understand, a sexual assault. I am told by the South Eastern Education Board that, having considered a range of options and looked at what was in the best interests of the child, the decision was taken to secure a place in a privately operated school. The Board is paying the fees for the pupil's attendance at the school.
	While the teacher will not receive compensation, I can assure the hon. Member that his rehabilitation was a major consideration and that the Terms of Settlement of this dispute contain a section relating specifically to the teacher and his needs.
	As a matter of principle I acknowledge the need to protect teachers from false allegations made against them. While we must of course listen to children and give primacy to their needs and welfare, the position of teachers also needs to be given due consideration in any investigative process. I am very much aware of the hugely damaging and lasting effect that false allegations can have on a teacher's professional and personal life. Our procedures must recognise teachers' rights to be heard, and to be protected against false allegations.
	In the coming months my Department will be undertaking a review of the way precautionary suspensions currently operate, with the aim of issuing fresh guidance to schools.

Education and Library Boards

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) recurrent and (b) capital expenditure funding provided to each Northern Ireland education and library board was in each year since 1995.

Barry Gardiner: The following table shows all the recurrent and capital allocations provided to the education and library boards for the period 199596 to 200304. The allocations for 200405 have not yet been finalised.
	
		Education and library boards allocations (recurrent and capital) from 199596 to 200304
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB Total 
		
		
			 199596   
			 Recurrent 170,868 202,884 175,349 205,309 180,034 934,444 
			 Capital 4,815 12,358 9,579 14,961 6,361 48,074 
			 Total 175,683 215,242 184,928 220,270 186,395 982,518 
			
			 199697   
			 Recurrent 176,095 207,222 184,904 211,821 186,893 966,935 
			 Capital 4,925 12,088 8,265 12,032 6,811 44,121 
			 Total 181,020 219,310 193,169 223,853 193,704 1,011,056 
			
			 199798   
			 Recurrent 179,243 210,374 183,728 218,540 192,459 984,344 
			 Capital 5,650 10,504 6,944 8,471 8,540 40,109 
			 Total 184,893 220,878 190,672 227,011 200,999 1,024,453 
			
			 199899   
			 Recurrent 159,914 197,666 175,633 206,127 176,868 916,208 
			 Capital 7,431 8,686 6,783 6,478 9,127 38,505 
			 Total 167,345 206,352 182,416 212,605 185,995 954,713 
			
			 19992000   
			 Recurrent 165,735 198,925 179,215 209,365 180,247 933,487 
			 Capital 3,698 5,939 8,187 5,037 6,639 29,500 
			 Total 169,433 204,864 187,402 214,402 186,886 962,987 
			
			 200001   
			 Recurrent 172,576 207,003 187,735 218,242 189,757 975,313 
			 Capital 4,681 9,093 13,750 9,476 7,422 44,422 
			 Total 177,257 216,096 201,485 227,718 197,179 1,019,735 
			
			 200102   
			 Recurrent 185,796 220,648 201,331 231,605 219,994 1,059,374 
			 Capital 5,254 10,454 18,524 10,663 7,109 52,004 
			 Total 191,050 231,102 219,855 242,268 227,103 1,111,378 
			
			 200203   
			 Recurrent 201,424 244,053 220,457 250,344 232,960 1,149,238 
			 Capital 7,979 12,744 17,846 9,057 12,513 60,139 
			 Total 209,403 256,797 238,303 259,401 245,473 1,209,377 
			
			 200304   
			 Recurrent 210,424 263,083 230,915 269,160 256,394 1,229,976 
			 Capital 12,483 13,925 14,270 11,589 13,336 65,603 
			 Total 222,907 277,008 245,185 280,749 269,730 1,295,579

Equality Consultation

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the consultation on the Department of Education's equality scheme and equality impact assessment timetable does not appear on the Department's website.

Barry Gardiner: The documents are available on the Departments website, under 'Current Consultations' and details of the consultation are also on the Consultation NI website.
	Hard copies and alternative formats of the documents are available from the Department on request.

Housing Executive

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many properties the Northern Ireland Housing Executive owns in each parliamentary constituency in Belfast; how many are vacant in each case; and what different types of heating system are fitted in occupied Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties in each parliamentary constituency in Belfast.

John Spellar: The information is not available by constituency, however at 24 March 2005 the information by housing executive district office is as follows.
	
		
			 Housing executive   Heating source 
			 district office Occupied stock Vacant stock(87) Oil Gas Electric Room heater Other 
		
		
			 Belfast 1 2,200 8 317 1,057 427 393 6 
			 Belfast 2 3,552 56 732 1,708 594 508 10 
			 Belfast 3 3,301 4 714 1,912 160 499 16 
			 Belfast 4 3,349 119 348 1,536 965 453 47 
			 Belfast 5 3,617 109 474 1,940 406 774 23 
			 Belfast 6 3,123 132 202 2,050 185 679 7 
			 Belfast 7 4,076 31 517 2,536 517 459 47 
			 Total 23,218 459 3,304 12,739 3,254 3,765 156 
		
	
	(87)Excludes properties scheduled for redevelopment.

Housing Executive Funding

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which community organisations have received funding from the Housing Executive in each constituency in Northern Ireland in the last five years to meet (a) staff costs, (b) administration costs and (c) capital costs.

John Spellar: The information is shown in the following table. No funding was provided in respect of capital costs.
	
		
			 Constituency(88) Group name Staff costs Administration costs 
		
		
			 West Belfast Greater Shankill yes  
			  Lenadoon yes  
			  Upper Springfield Resource Centre yes  
			  West Belfast Partnership Board  yes 
			  Whiterock/Westrock yes  
			  Tudor Renewal Residents Association yes yes 
			  Twaddell/Woodvale yes  
			 North Belfast Ardoyne yes  
			  Ligoniel Integrated Plan yes  
			  Lower North Belfast Community Council yes  
			  New Lodge Housing Forum yes  
			  North Belfast Partnership Board  yes 
			 South Belfast Markets Development Association yes  
			  Greater Village Regeneration Trust yes yes 
			 East Belfast Mersey Street Area Residents Association yes  
			 Foyle Bogside/Brandywell Community Housing Project yes yes 
			 Strangford Glen Ward Community Association yes  
			 Newry and Armagh Newry and Mourne Community group yes  
			  Newry Travellers yes  
		
	
	(88)The constituency designation is based on the name of the group and/or the known area where it operates and compared with the names of the wards in that constituency.

Language Teaching

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in the Belfast Education and Library Board area are given teaching support from the English as an Additional Language Support Unit; and what the annual budget is for this unit in the BELB area.

Barry Gardiner: The numbers of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) are determined by the annual school census which took place in October 2004. At that date, the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) recorded 574 children with EAL.
	Each of the five Education and Library Boards receive earmarked funding from the Department on a per capita basis in respect of EAL. The Department's total earmarked budget is 420,000 in 200506 and the BELB has been allocated 117,000 from this budget for EAL support services in the 200506 financial year which is an increase of 7,000 from 200405.

Language Teaching

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils are taught through the Irish language schools sector in the Belfast Education and Library Board area; and what the Government spending on this sector was in the last year for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: In 200405, there are 1,058 pupils taught in grant-aided Irish Medium primary schools, and 442 pupils taught in grant-aided Irish Medium post-primary schools in the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) area. In 200304, the respective figures were 995 and 406. Based on information contained in the Local Management of Schools Outturn Statement published by the BELB for the financial year 200304, a total of 4,011,407 was spent directly on Irish Medium Schools in the Belfast Board area.

Lir Integrated Primary School

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations he has received concerning the development proposal for Lir Integrated Primary School in Ballycastle.

Barry Gardiner: The Department of Education received two objections to the Development Proposal, one during the two-month consultation period and one shortly after the consultation period expired. 145 pre-printed postcards were also received from supporters of the proposal from across the Province, 135 were received during the two-month consultation period and 10 were received after the consultation period expired.

Means-tested Benefits (Strangford)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people of pensionable age who are living in (a) nursing and (b) residential homes in Strangford constituency qualify for means-tested benefits.

John Spellar: The information requested is not available. The Social Security Agency and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety do not hold details of residents of nursing and residential homes and has not carried out exercises to assess their entitlement to means-tested benefits.

Offender Management

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland Report and the Management of Sex Offenders in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to the management of violent offenders in the community; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The first thematic inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland provides a sound basis to further develop the procedures already in place for assessing and managing the risk posed by sex offenders. I wish therefore to give careful consideration to the recommendations of the report for which I have responsibility, including extending the arrangements to include violent offenders. I have asked officials to consult with colleagues who operate the offender management procedures, both here and in England and Wales, before reaching conclusions on the way forward.

Pension Credit

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of pension credit take-up levels in Northern Ireland; and what policies are in place to increase that rate.

John Spellar: No estimate has been made of the number of pensioners who might be entitled to state pension credit.
	A target has been set of promoting take-up of 98,500 by March 2006 and 104,000 by March 2008. By February 2005, 91,782 pensioner households were in receipt of pension credit.

Police Appointments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 589W, on police appointments, how many of the (a) 816 non-Catholic candidates appointed to the police and (b) 408 suitably qualified candidates who were rejected because of the equal recruitment policy were Protestant.

Ian Pearson: pursuant to the reply, 21 March 2005, Official Report, c.589W
	I am advised that of the stated 816 non-Catholic applicants appointed to the PSNI as trainee constables, 802 were perceived as being from a Protestant community background.
	I am also advised that of the stated 408 suitably qualified applicants who were rejected because of the equal recruitment policy, 405 were perceived as being from a Protestant community background.

Polling Stations

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his intention that all polling stations in the forthcoming local government elections on 5 May and at the next general election in Northern Ireland should be guarded by uniformed police officers.

Ian Pearson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to providing the appropriate level of support to the chief electoral officer in his management of the electoral process in Northern Ireland. This support will be based on individual threat assessments conducted on behalf of district commanders, with whom the operational decisions for deployments lie.

Pollution

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution were reported in Lough Neagh in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents.

Angela Smith: From 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004, the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service Unit received 12 reports of pollution within a 50 metre radius of Lough Neagh. Of these, eight incidents were confirmed and all assessed as 'low severity' in that the incidents resulted in a localised environmental impact only. By origin, seven incidents were attributed to industry and one to the Department for Regional Development's Water Service.

Pollution

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution were reported in the Six Mile Water river in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service received 127 reports of pollution in the Six Mile Water river from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004. Of these, 52 incidents were confirmed.
	By origin, 27 incidents were attributed to industry, six to the Department for Regional Development's water service, three to farming, three to transport and 13 to 'other' sources (i.e. sources which are not any of these nor domestic). By severity, nine incidents were assessed as 'medium' in that the incidents would have had a more than localised impact and may for example have had a readily observable impact on the invertebrate life in the watercourse. The remaining 43 incidents were assessed as 'low' severity in that they would have resulted in a localised environmental impact only.

Pollution

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, what constituted the failure of the screening plant at Briggs Rock, Orlock.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Lady Hermon, dated 31 March 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question, pursuant to his Answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, about what constituted the failure of the screening plant at Briggs Rock, Orlock (224255). I have been asked to reply as the issue falls within my operational responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	The screening plant at Briggs Rock originally comprised two automatic rotating screens which removed most solids and materials from the sewage before the effluent liquor was discharged to sea. Over the past two to three years, due to difficulties in sourcing replacement parts, the screens became increasingly difficult to maintain and repair, and more expensive to operate. The condition of the screens continued to deteriorate and they were removed in late 2004. As an interim measure, pending the provisions of a new automatic screening plant, the screens were replaced by fabricated bar screens. These screens have to be cleaned manually twice per day and are not as effective as the automatic rotating screens.
	Water Service regrets the pollution caused by the failure of this equipment and is currently taking forward a project to provide a new automatic screening plant. This is scheduled for completion by the end of this summer.

Pollution

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, if he will make a statement on action taken since 9 March to clean up the coastline.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Lady Hermon, dated 31 March 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question, pursuant to his Answer of 21 March, Official Report, column 588W, on marine pollution, if he will make a statement on action taken since 9 March to clean up the coastline (224256). I have been asked to reply as the issue falls within my operational responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	Water Service has already met with North Down Borough Council to discuss the situation. A detailed inspection of the foreshore at Orlock Point has been undertaken and a clean-up operation commenced on 30 March 2005. Owing to the nature of the rocky coastline around Orlock Point, it is expected that it will take several days to complete.
	Pending the provision of the new automatic screening plant at Briggs Rock, due for completion by the end of the summer at a cost of 150,000. Water Service will carry out regular inspections of the coastline around Orlock and take further clean-up action when necessary.

Post-primary Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the differences between post-primary integrated education and controlled secondary schools, with particular reference to the (a) curriculum, (b) ethos and (c) examination results.

Barry Gardiner: The information is as follows:
	(a) The requirements of the statutory curriculum are the same for all post-primary schools.
	(b) The Department of Education does not have an overarching statement on ethos in relation to controlled secondary schools. The managing body of individual schools may, however, express this as a statement of values.
	The Department requires schools transforming to integrated status to publish a Transformation Development Plan in which it is suggested that schools may wish to address the issue of ethos. In addition, all integrated schools have the option of signing up to a Statement of Principles prepared and published by the Northern Ireland council for Integrated Education.
	(c) The performance in public examinations for all post-primary schools for the period 200104 is as follows:
	
		Performance in public examinations by key indicators and management type,200102 to 200304
		
			 Academic year Key indicator Controlled non-grammar Controlled grammar Total controlled Integrated non-grammar 
		
		
			 200304 Percentage of year 12 pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grades A*-C 35 96 52 47 
			  Percentage of those entered for A-levels achieving 2+ A Levels (or equivalent) at Grades A-E 82 98 93 83 
			   
			 200203 Percentage of year 12 pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grades A*-C 33 95 49 48 
			  Percentage of those entered for A-levels achieving 2+ A Levels (or equivalent) at Grades A-E 84 98 94 85 
			   
			 200102 Percentage of year 12 pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grades A*-C 34 95 50 47 
			  Percentage of those entered for A-levels achieving 2+ A Levels (or equivalent) at Grades A-E 83 99 94 76 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.'Integrated' schools include Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated schools.
	Source:
	Summary of Annual Examination Results.

Post-primary Education

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the likely size of the independently financed secondary school sector after the ending of academic selection between primary and secondary schools in the Province.

Barry Gardiner: The size of the independent school sector in Northern Ireland is not expected to change as a result of the new arrangements for post-primary education.

Post-primary Education

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which (a) parents' groups, (b) principals of secondary and grammar schools and (c) principals of primary schools he has met since the publication of the Burns Report to discuss selection procedures for transfer between primary and secondary schools in the Province.

Barry Gardiner: Prior to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly, education matters were the responsibility of the devolved Administration. Since then, my predecessor Jane Kennedy and I met with representatives of the Governing Bodies Association on a number of occasions and with representatives of the Association of Headteachers in Secondary Schools and the Secondary Heads Association to discuss new arrangements for post primary education in Northern Ireland. No meetings between Ministers and parents' groups or principals of primary schools have been held.

Post-primary Education

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost is of implementing the Costello Report in years (a) one, (b) two and (c) three after the ending of academic selection between primary and secondary schools in the Province.

Barry Gardiner: As the new post-primary arrangements will largely be developed at local level, it is not yet possible to estimate the implementation costs in the three years following the ending of academic selection. Over the next three years 24.7 million has been made available to support the preparation for, and the phased introduction of key elements of, the new arrangements in advance of the last transfer tests in 2008.

Post-primary Education

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the proposals in the Costello Report on post-primary education in Northern Ireland were subject to an economic appraisal.

Barry Gardiner: A key recommendation is that new arrangements will be developed at local level by schools and school managing authorities working together. As these emerge, individual proposals will be required to demonstrate value for money and those which involve capital expenditure will be subject to an economic appraisal in the normal way.

Post-primary Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of those pupils (a) not entered and (b) eligible for the transfer test for post-primary schools were from disadvantaged backgrounds in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: Information on the background of individual pupils at primary schools/preparatory departments is not available. However, the following tables show the number of pupils eligible for the transfer test, and the number of these who were not entered, at grant-aided schools in each Free School Meal band.
	
		
			  Number of Year 7 pupils who did not sit the test 
			 Free school meal (FSM) band 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 11 per cent. 1,481 1,727 1,856 1,865 1,943 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 11 to 20 per cent. 1,938 1,819 1,784 1,985 2,313 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 21 to 30 per cent. 1,853 1,737 1,779 1,634 1,822 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 31 to 40 per cent. 900 769 852 800 661 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 41 to 50 per cent. 667 590 594 598 653 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 51 per cent. 1,559 1,495 1,352 1,332 1,241 
		
	
	
		
			  Total number of Year 7 pupils 
			 Free school meal (FSM) band 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 11 per cent. 7,365 8,133 8,412 8,313 8,353 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 11 to 20 per cent. 5,599 5,609 5,512 6,028 6,004 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 21 to 30 per cent. 5,156 4,559 4,804 4,341 4,572 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 31 to 40 per cent. 2,882 2,446 2,385 2,137 1,712 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was 4150 per cent. 1,538 1,324 1,289 1,446 1,393 
			 Schools where the proportion of pupils entitled to FSM was  51 51 per cent. 3,443 3,104 2,745 2,455 2,271

Pupil Numbers

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the most recent projections of pupil populations in Northern Ireland are for each year in the period 2005 to 2012, broken down by (a) school type and (b) education board area.

Barry Gardiner: Projected pupil numbers at grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland are available for the period 200506 to 201011 and are as follows:
	
		
			  200506 200607 200708 200809 200910 201011 
		
		
			 Nursery schools 6,200 6,200 6,200 6,200 6,200 6,200 
			 Primary schools/preparatory departments 169,000 166,800 165,300 162,300 159,800 157,600 
			 Secondary (non-grammar) schools 87,900 85,700 83,200 81,900 80,700 79,500 
			 Grammar schools (secondary departments) 63,300 63,100 63,100 63,000 62,900 62,900 
			 Special schools 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800 4,800 
		
	
	The projected pupils numbers are only produced in respect of Northern Ireland as a whole. However, for education and library board areas, population projections for the relevant age-group i.e. those aged 317 (which include children not attending grant-aided schools) are as follows:
	
		
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
		
		
			 Belfast 52,100 50,400 48,900 47,500 46,000 44,500 43,100 41,900 
			 Western 66,800 65,800 64,800 64,000 63,200 62,600 62,200 61,800 
			 North Eastern 84,500 83,800 83,100 82,400 81,800 81,200 80,700 80,200 
			 South Eastern 81,700 80,800 79,800 78,700 77,500 76,300 75,400 74,500 
			 Southern 81,600 80,900 80,300 79,600 78,900 78,400 78,100 77,900

School Admissions

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Department of Education does not supply additional response booklets to parent groups, schools and politicians as part of the consultation process in Northern Ireland's admissions arrangements for post primary schools; which policy directs civil servants to refuse such requests; and when the policy came into effect.

Barry Gardiner: It is important that those responding do so after carefully considering the content of the consultation document itself. Issuing copies of the Response Booklet in isolation could result in ill-informed comments and would not contribute to a fair and accurate reflection of opinion. The approach the Department is taking is established practice and is consistent with the approach used in other consultations.
	This is an open consultation and anyone who wishes to respond can contact the Department by telephone, fax, e-mail or in writing and the Department will provide them with a copy of the consultation document and the Response Booklet. Over 17,000 copies of the documents have been issued to date. The Response Booklet can also be downloaded from the Department's website.

School Admissions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average GCSE points score for post-primary integrated schools using academic selection as an admission criterion was in the periods immediately (a) before and (b) after the change to admission criteria was introduced.

Barry Gardiner: Two post-primary integrated schools use academic selection as an admission criterion: Slemish College and Lagan College. Slemish College opened on 1 September 1996 and its pupils did not take GCSEs until 200001. GCSE point score information is unavailable for years prior to 199596.
	Average GCSE point scores for the two schools are as follows:
	
		
			  Slemish College Lagan College 
		
		
			 199596 n/a 33.0 
			 199697 n/a 37.8 
			 199798 n/a 35.6 
			 199899 n/a 31.4 
			 19992000 n/a 36.7 
			 200001 30.1 34.3 
			 200102 32.0 36.2 
			 200203 32.4 37.6 
			 200304 36.0 35.1 
		
	
	The change to admission criteria occurred on the following dates:
	Lagan CollegeSeptember 1996
	Slemish CollegeSeptember 2002.

School Admissions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses have been received by the Department of Education on the consultation on admissions criteria to post-primary schools, broken down by those received by (a) post, (b) electronic submission and (c) other means.

Barry Gardiner: To date, the Department has received 159 responses to the consultation on new admissions arrangements for post-primary schools. Of these, 93 responses have been received by post and 66 responses have been submitted electronically.

School Admissions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses have been received by the Department of Education on the consultation on admissions criteria to post-primary schools rejecting the proposals on the basis that no provision has been made for academic selection as a criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: We are still in the early stages of this consultation exercise. The closing date for responses is 30 June 2005. Analysis of responses has not started.
	All responses will be given careful consideration before decisions are taken and a summary of responses will be produced following the consultation.

School Closures

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what school closures are planned in Northern Ireland for each year in the period 2005 to 2012, broken down by (a) school type and (b) education board area.

Barry Gardiner: All proposals for school closures are subject to the formal Development Proposal process which ensures that all interested parties are consulted and have an opportunity to comment.
	There are currently three schools which are the subject of Development Proposals, two of which if approved would close in 2005 (ie Antiville and St. Mary's), with Tullymacarette Primary School scheduled to close in 2007.
	
		
			   Name of school   Type Education and Library Board area 
		
		
			 Antiville Primary School Controlled primary North Eastern 
			 Tullymacarette Primary School Controlled primary Southern 
			 St. Mary's Primary School Maintained primary Western 
		
	
	No decisions have yet been taken on any of these proposals.
	There are 29 other schools which have already been approved for amalgamations which will result in 12 replacement schools. Unless indicated to the contrary, these involve amalgamations into one new replacement school as follows:
	
		
			 Name of schools Type Education and Library Board area Estimated completion date 
		
		
			 St. John's Primary School/St. Catherine's Primary School/St. Gall's Primary School Belfast Maintained primary Belfast 2005 
			 Clough Primary School/Downshire Primary School Controlled primary South Eastern 2005 
			 Hillsborough Primary School/Newport Primary School Controlled primary South Eastern 2005 
			 Dervaghroy Primary School/Sixmilecross Primary School/The Hutton Primary School Controlled primary Western 2005 
			 All Saints Primary School/St. Mary's Primary School/St. Joseph's Primary School/St. Louis Primary School Ballymena Amalgamation into two maintained primary schools North Eastern 2006 
			 Charley Primary School/Lambeg Primary School/Drumbo Primary School/Hillhall Primary School Controlled primary South Eastern 2006 
			 Annaghmore Primary School/Tullyroan Primary School Controlled primary Southern 2006 
			 Burnfoot Primary School/Dungiven Primary School/Largy Primary School Controlled primary Western 2006 
			 Coranny Primary School/Cornagague Primary School Maintained primary Western 2006 
			 Limegrove Special School, Limavady/Glasvey Special School, Ballykelly Controlled special Western 2006 
			 St. Patrick's Boys' Academy/St. Patrick's Girls' Academy, Dungannon Voluntary grammar Southern 2008 
		
	
	School authorities are expected to plan for the future level of provision needed and further closures are likely to occur in the period to 2012 as relevant authorities bring forward Development Proposals for approval.

School Services

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on changes in services in schools to be provided in 200506 following his Department's recent budget discussions with the North Eastern Education and Library Board.

Barry Gardiner: For 200506, I have made available some 954 million directly to schools, an increase of 79 million on the amount provided in 200405. More money is going into virtually every school at a time when pupil numbers are falling. Under the new common funding arrangements, schools across Northern Ireland are also having their budgets determined, for the first time, on a consistent and equitable basis.
	I am conscious that the Education and Library Boards provide many important services directly to schools. Their centre budgets too have increasedby almost 20 million in overall terms and by almost 4 million in the case of the North Eastern Education and Library Board.
	The children in our school system need to be at the centre of all that we do and I have made clear to all boards that I expect priority to be given to the needs of the classroom and to other key front-line services.

Smoking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses he has received to his Department's consultation on smoking in enclosed public places in Northern Ireland as contained in question 5c of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 20-year strategy, A Healthier Future; and how many of these responses were (a) in favour of a total ban, (b) against a total ban and (c) in favour of a partial ban.

Angela Smith: I will not be in a position to provide further information on the responses received until after the end of the consultation exercise.

Smoking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to publicise his Department's consultation on smoking in enclosed public places in Northern Ireland as contained in question 5c of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 20-year strategy, 'A Healthier Future'.

Angela Smith: The consultation document 'A Healthier Future' was launched on 21 December 2004, a press release issued and media interviews were undertaken. The document was issued to a wide range of organisations and individuals. A week long advertising campaign ran from 24 February 2005 to 2 March 2005 in the main local Northern Ireland newspapers. This provided the public with the opportunity to respond by either replying to the adverts or sending their views online on the Department's website.

Special EU Programmes Body

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Special EU Programmes Body set up under the Belfast Agreement is a public authority forthe purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Paul Murphy: The Special EU Programmes Body is not a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 806W.

Substitute Teachers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of providing substitute teachers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and how much of that cost was due to industrial action relating to progression on the upper pay spine.

Barry Gardiner: The total salary cost of providing substitute teachers in Northern Ireland (including employer costs in relation to superannuation and national insurance contributions) was as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200304 49,291,271.41 
			 200405 51,656,414.26 
		
	
	Information regarding the reasons for the employment of substitute teachers is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Teaching

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many students graduated in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years with teaching qualifications;
	(2)  how many people in Northern Ireland have gained teaching qualifications in each year since 1997.

Barry Gardiner: The number of teacher training qualifications obtained from Northern Ireland higher education institutions in each year since 1997 are as follows:
	
		Students gaining teacher training qualifications at NI higher education institutions 199697 to 200304
		
			  Number of qualifications obtained 
		
		
			 199697 753 
			 199798 644 
			 199899 649 
			 19992000 635 
			 200001 700 
			 200102 716 
			 200203 772 
			 200304 779 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency
	The Department publishes annual statistical bulletins on higher education qualifications which are available to download from: http://www.delni.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/information/page/SRHEQualifications

Teaching

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new teaching posts were created in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: There is no set level of staffing for schools in the primary or post-primary sectors. Under local management of schools funding arrangements, it is a matter for Boards of Governors of individual schools to decide on the level of staffing in the school.
	In terms of the overall supply and demand for teachers the Department uses a statistical demand model to balance the supply with the aggregate level of demands.

University Graduates

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have graduated from university in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Barry Gardiner: The number of higher education qualifications obtained from Northern Ireland higher education institutions in each year since 1997 are as follows:
	
		Students gaining qualifications at NI higher education institutions 199697 to 200304
		
			  Number of qualifications obtained 
		
		
			 199697 11,982 
			 199798 12,833 
			 199899 11,625 
			 19992000 11,321 
			 200001 12,248 
			 200102 13,076 
			 200203 13,215 
			 200304 13,860 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency
	Please note that from 199899, the university of Ulster no longer conferred interim awards to students on linked postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and masters courses.
	The Department publishes annual statistical bulletins on higher education qualifications which are available to download from: http://www.delni.gov.uk/index. cfm/area/information/page/SRHEQualifications.

Women's Centres

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure continued funding for women's centres in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: I am aware that many women's centres would have faced a financial crisis if the recent 1.1 million short-term funding that I announced on 16 March had not been provided. Women's Centres provide a range of local services in disadvantaged communities and continue to make a major contribution towards peace building and social cohesion. I am establishing a review group to consider the longer-term funding for the women's sector. This group will be led by the Department for Social Development and will report to me and recommend actions within the six-month period of this programme.

Women's Support Network

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sources of funding his Department has offered to the Women's Support Network following the ending of funding under the Executive Programme Fund.

John Spellar: The Women's Support Network received 24,613 funding from the Department for Social Development under the short-term Executive Programme Funds in the financial year 200304. Since that time the Women's Support Network has secured other public funding and it is currently in receipt of funding provided by OFMDFM, under the Peace II programme. This funding will end in December 2006.
	On 16 March I announced that I will establish a review group to consider the longer-term funding for the women's sector. In the meantime I have made available short-term funding of 1.1 million for the sector. The Women's Support Network will be considered under this review.